The articulatory classification of English consonant phonemes. The present day pronunciation standards of English consonants.

Most words in English contain at least one consonant, and some contain many more. For example, at and she each contain one consonant sound, play contains two, and spring contains four.
Articulatory classification organizes English consonants into certain groups according to distinctive changes in the degree of noise, the manner of articulation, the place of articulation, the presence of voice and the position of the soft palate [Леонтьева. 2004 : 25-26].
I. The degree of noise is determined by the presence of voice and noise characteristics. According to it English consonants are divided into noise consonants and sonorants. Noise consonants [p, b, t, d, k, g, f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ∫, j, h, t∫, ʤ] are characterized by noise component characteristic.
Sonorants [m, n, ŋ, w, r, l, j] are produced with tone prevailing over noise.
II. The manner of articulation is determined by the type of obstruction. According to it English consonants are grouped into occlusive, constrictive and occlusive-constrictive.
Occlusive consonants are produced with a complete obstruction in the mouth [p, t, k, b, d, g] or nasal cavities [m, n, ŋ]. The sounds [p, t, k, b, d, g] are also called plosives or stops, because in their production the air is released with plosion.
Constrictive consonants are produced with an incomplete obstruction in the resonator, forming a narrow [f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ∫, j, h] or a wider passage [w, r, l, j]. The sounds [f, v, θ, ð, s, z, ∫, j, h] are also called fricatives, because in their production the air is released with friction.
Occlusive-constrictive consonants or affricates [t∫, ʤ] are produced with a complete obstruction, which is slowly released with friction.
III. The place of articulation is determined by the position of the active organ of speech. According to it English consonants are divided into labial, lingual and glottal. The class of labial consonants is further subdivided into bilabial and labio-dental; the class of lingual — into forelingual, mediolingual and backlingual [Леонтьева. 2004 : 25-26].
1. Labial consonants are articulated by the lips. This class includes:
— bilabial consonants [p, b, m, w], produced with both lips;
— labio-dental consonants [f, v], articulated with the lower lip against the upper teeth.
2. Lingual consonants are articulated by the tongue. This class is divided into:
— forelingual consonants [t, d, s, z, ∫, j, θ, ð, t∫, ʤ, n, l, r], produced with the tip of the tongue;
— mediolingual consonant [j], produced with the front part of the tongue; — backlingual (velar) consonants [k, g, ŋ], produced with the back part of the tongue.
The subclass of forelingual consonants may be grouped into:
— interdental consonants [θ, ð];
— alveolar consonants [t, d, s, z, n, l];
— post-alveolar consonant [r];
— palato-alveolar consonants [t∫, ʤ, ∫, j].
3. Glottal consonant [h] is articulated in the glottis. It’s necessary to mention, that the number of places of articulation may be different. Thus English consonants are divided into: