A laminal consonant is a phone produced by obstructing the air passage with the flattened end of the tongue. This contrasts with apical consonants, which are produced by creating a blockage with the tongue tip only. This is not a very common distinction, and typically applied only to fricatives and affricates. The Basque language uses this distinction, as does Serbo-Croatian.
See also
Last updated: 10-15-2005 23:38:49