 The laminal alveolar articulation is often mistakenly called dental, because the tip of the tongue can be seen near to or touching the teeth.However, it is the rearmost point of contact that defines the place of articulation, is where the oral cavity ends, and it is the resonant space of the oral cavity that gives consonants and vowels their characteristics.The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) does not have separate symbols for the alveolar consonants.