Détente (Linguistics)
The détente [ de.tɑ̃t ] (French for 'relaxation') denotes a specialty in French when pronouncing the plosives b, d, g and the partial plosives m, n and l. For the pronunciation of these sounds, the solution (relaxation = détente) of the speech muscles involved in sound formation must be observed. If the mentioned plosives and partial plosives are in the final (at the end of a rhythmic group ), their closure must be released. By relaxing the speech muscles , a very light, quiet [ ə ] becomes audible.
Examples: la ro be , la sala de , la lan gue , la fe mme , le télépho ne , la sa lle .
In contrast to the French language, in German the closure of plosives and partial plosives is not released at the end. The [b] becomes [p], [d] becomes [t] and [g] becomes [k].
Examples: rod [ʃta: p], bath [ba: t], path [we: k]