mellow (adj.)

One of the features of sound set up by Jakobson and Halle in their DISTINCTIVE FEATURE theory of PHONOLOGY, to handle variations in PLACE OF ARTICULATION; its opposite is STRIDENT. Mellow sounds are defined ARTICULATORILY and ACOUSTICALLY, as those involving a less complex or ‘smooth-edged’ CONSTRICTION at the point of articulation, and marked by acoustic energy of relatively low FREQUENCY and intensity, compared with strident sounds. PLOSIVES and NASALS are examples.