sonantal, a. Phonetics.
(səʊˈnæntəl)
[f. sonant n. + -al1.]
1. Syllabic; = sonant a. b.
| 1891 A. L. Mayhew Synopsis O.E. Phonol. 36 The Indg. sonantal liquid l. 1897 N.E.D. s.v. Diphthong, The combination of a sonantal with a consonantal vowel. Ibid., When these sounds [sc. y or w]..follow the sonantal vowel, the combination is called a ‘falling diphthong’. |
2. That is or contains a sonant (sonant n. 3). rare.
| 1976 Archivum Linguisticum VII. 93 The discussion is divided into sections dealing with developments before geminates, in ‘diphthongal groups’ (vowel + sonant), with ‘sonantal finals’ (sonant preceded by another consonant) and before two consonants. |