What sound categories include sounds like /ʧ/ and /ʤ/?

The correct answer is that /ʧ/ and /ʤ/ are categorized as affricates. This classification is based on their unique articulatory characteristics, which combine features of both stops and fricatives. An affricate begins as a stop, where airflow is completely obstructed, followed by a release that creates a turbulent airflow, characteristic of fricatives.

For example, the sound /ʧ/ (as in "church") starts with a complete blockage of the airflow in the vocal tract and is then released into a fricative sound, allowing air to pass through the constricted space. Similarly, /ʤ/ (as in "judge") follows the same pattern, beginning with a stop closure and transitioning into a fricative sound.

This contrast with other sound categories highlights their distinct nature. Fricatives, for instance, do not involve a complete stop of airflow and consist only of turbulent sounds. Nasal sounds involve airflow through the nasal cavity and do not follow the stop-fricative combination that defines affricates. Glides are a type of semivowel that moves more fluidly between sounds without the abrupt stop characteristic of affricates. Thus, /ʧ/ and /ʤ