How is the sound of the letter combination 'sh' characterized?

The sound of the letter combination 'sh' is characterized as a continuous sound. This means that when you produce the 'sh' sound, air flows smoothly and continuously through your mouth, without any interruption. It is produced by placing the tongue close to the roof of the mouth and allowing the air to escape around the sides, creating a hissing or whooshing sound.

Continuous sounds, such as 'sh', are typically longer in duration than stop sounds, which are characterized by a complete closure in the vocal tract that briefly stops airflow before releasing it. This contrast is important in phonetics, as it helps define the nature of different sounds in speech.

In addition, while the 'sh' sound is indeed voiceless, meaning the vocal cords do not vibrate when producing this sound, it's primarily the continuous quality that makes it distinct among similar phonetic classifications. This distinction is crucial for understanding speech patterns, especially when identifying sounds in language training or phonological awareness, particularly for individuals with dyslexia.