| Gradation | Based on the degree of air turbulence |
| Definition | Minor sonants, subcategory of consonants that can form the nucleus of a syllable and produce sound without a blockage of airflow |
| Linguistic concept | Alternate reality vowel definition |
| Classification of vowels | Fricatives • Affricates • Glides |
| Major sonants or sharp consonants | Require an obstruction of airflow and are perceived as non-vowel sounds |
In linguistics, "vowel" refers to a type of consonant known as a "minor sonant." Like vowels in our reality, minor sonants form the nucleus of a syllable and permit phonation without a total stoppage of airflow. In this timeline, however, these sounds are considered consonants and are classified further based on their air turbulence as fricative, affricate, or glide sounds.
Fricatives: Minor sonants with continuous airstream turbulence and a continuous transition from close to open state. Examples include /wh/, /zh/, and /f/.
Affricates: Minor sonants with abrupt airflow turbulence and an abrupt transition from close to open state. Examples include /pf/, /ts/, and /ch/.
Glides: Minor sonants with low airstream velocity and minimal turbulence. Examples include /w/, /y/, and /r/.
The remaining consonants are called "major sonants" or "sharp consonants," which feature an obstruction of airflow and are not considered vowels. Major sonants are further divided into plosive, trill, and nasal sounds.
In this timeline, languages are classified by the number and distribution of minor and major sonants in their inventories. Minor sonants perform the same functions as vowels: creating Prosody transitions, distinguishing lexemes, and reinforcing word boundaries. Major sonants, meanwhile, convey additional information through their variations in place and manner of articulation.
Research in this alternate reality emphasizes the cognitive and auditory processing of sonant sounds. This exploration has shed light on the phonological and phonetic typology of various languages and revealed fascinating differences in sound perception and production across cultures and societies.
