Editing Place of articulation (section)

==Central and lateral articulation==
{{main|Lateral consonant}}
The tongue contacts the mouth with a surface that has two dimensions: length and width. So far, only points of articulation along its length have been considered. However, articulation varies along its width as well. When the airstream is directed down the center of the tongue, the consonant is said to be ''central''. If, however, it is deflected off to one side, escaping between the side of the tongue and the side teeth, it is said to be ''[[lateral consonant|lateral]]''. Nonetheless, for simplicity's sake the place of articulation is assumed to be the point along the length of the tongue, and the consonant may in addition be said to be central or lateral. That is, a consonant may be lateral alveolar, like English {{IPA|/l/}} (the tongue contacts the alveolar ridge, but allows air to flow off to the side), or lateral palatal, like Castilian Spanish ''ll'' {{IPA|/ʎ/}}. Some [[Indigenous Australian languages]] contrast dental, alveolar, retroflex, and palatal laterals, and many [[Native American languages]] have lateral [[fricative]]s and [[affricate]]s as well.