= Place of articulation
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<Place of articulation> identifies where speech articulators form a constriction or closure. A description can specify an active articulator, such as the tongue, and the surface it approaches. A <bilabial consonant> uses both lips; a <labiodental consonant> uses the lower lip and upper teeth; a <velar consonant> involves the back of the tongue near the soft palate.<Essentials of Linguistics (2nd edition) by Catherine Anderson and others>[Section3.3, Describing consonants: Place and phonation]{ref}
For example, `[f]` and `[v]` share a labiodental location, while their typical <voicing> classifications differ. Conversely, describing a sound as a <fricative> specifies <manner of articulation> without identifying which constriction produces it. The paired descriptions make the physical classification more informative.
The place is an approximate region and relation between articulators, rather than a single universal coordinate in the mouth. Neighboring sounds can change the detailed movement while leaving the broad category useful.
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