What two aspects are manipulated when producing different English consonants?

When producing different English consonants, the two key aspects that are manipulated are the place of articulation and the manner of articulation.

The place of articulation refers to where in the vocal tract the constriction occurs during the production of a consonant. For instance, sounds can be produced at the lips (like /p/ and /b/), at the alveolar ridge (like /t/ and /d/), or at the velum (like /k/ and /g/).

Manner of articulation describes how the airflow is obstructed as the sound is produced. This includes different categories such as stops (where airflow is completely stopped, like /p/ and /t/), fricatives (where airflow is partially obstructed, like /s/ and /f/), and nasals (where airflow is directed through the nasal cavity, like /m/ and /n/).

Understanding these two dimensions is essential for distinguishing between different consonants in English, as each sound has a unique combination of place and manner of articulation that shapes its acoustic properties and perceptual features.