Phonics

On this page you will see a list of iconophonics divided into plosives, fricatives, percussives, stops, vocals, and effectors. Iconophonics describe how sounds are made by the interactions of mouth parts. They also show how sounds are shaped. Iconophonics are combined to make more complex sounds.

For a more detailed explanation, read this introduction to phonics and the overview of beatboxology.

Plosives

Plosives are indicated by the two mouth parts touching.

Alveolar Plosive

tongue to ridge

Bidental (front) Plosive

upper and lower front teeth

Bidental (rear) Plosive

rear back teeth

Buccal Plosive

tongue to cheek

Dental Plosive

tongue to teeth

Interbilabial Plosive

tongue between lips

Interdental Plosive

tongue between teeth

Labiodental Plosive

teeth to lips

Palatal Plosive

tongue to hard palate

Pharyngeal Plosive

tongue to throat

Uvular Plosive

uvula to throat

Velar Plosive

tongue to soft palate

Fricatives

Fricatives are indicated by the two mouth parts not touching.

Alveolar Fricative

between tongue and ridge

Bidental (front) Fricative

between two front teeth

Bidental (rear) Fricative

between rear teeth

Bilabial Fricative

between two lips

Dental Fricative

between tongue and teeth

Epiglottal Fricative

between epiglottis and throat

Interdental Fricative

between tongue and upper and lower teeth

Labiodental Fricative

between top teeth and lower lip

Palatal Fricative

between tongue and hard palate

Pharyngeal Fricative

between tongue and throat

Uvular Fricative

between tongue and uvula

Velar Fricative

between tongue and soft palate

Percussives

Fricatives are indicated with a small circle overlapping the two mouth parts.

Bidental (front) Percussive

upper and lower front teeth banged together

Bidental (rear) Percussive

upper and lower rear teeth banged together

Bilabial Percussive

upper and lower lips banged together

Sublingual Percussive

tongue banged down to floor of mouth

Stops

Stops are indicated by the two mouth parts being connected by a line.

Alveolar Stop

tongue stays touching ridge

Bidental (rear) Stop

upper and lower rear teeth stay touching

Bilabial Stop

two lips stay touching

Dental Stop

tongue stays touching upper front teeth

Epiglottal Stop

epiglottis stays touching throat

Interbilabial Stop

tongue stays between pressed lips

Interdental Stop

tongue stays between pressed teeth

Labiodental Stop

upper front teeth stay pressed to lower lip

Nasopharyngeal Stop

uvular stays pressed to throat

Palatal Stop

tongue stays pressed to hard palate

Pharyngeal Stop

tongue stays pressed to throat

Uvular Stop

tongue stays touching uvula

Velar Stop

tongue stays pressed to soft palate

Effectors

Effectors shape the sound.

Aspiration

breathing

Forced

a small oscillation is created

Inward

sound is made inwards

Oscillation

a continuous vibration

Tight

muscles are tightened

Vocals

Vocals can be high, mid, or low pitched.

Vocal (Low)

voiced at a low pitch

Voiced (High)

voiced at a high pitch

Voiced (Mid)

voiced at normal speaking pitch

BZZKTT Version 8.2 • © 2015-2020 Gavin ‘Beatbox’ Tyte (aka TyTe) • All Rights Reserved

BZZKTT is kindly hosted by Alex Tearse from Reefnet.

Special thanks to Alex Tearse, Paul Arnett, Michael Wyatt, Tyler Thompson, Helen Tyte, David ‘Goznet’ Gosnell, and Jerusalem Productions.