Final answer:
The most sonorous elements in the English language are vowels and glides because they are produced with minimal constriction of airflow, making them inherently more resonant than consonants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most sonorous elements in the English language are the vowels and glides. Vowels are sounds produced without any significant constriction or closure in the vocal tract, allowing the air to flow freely through the mouth.
This characteristic makes them inherently sonorous. Glides, also known as semivowels, share properties with both vowels and consonants, but like vowels, they are produced with little restriction of the airflow and thus also contribute to sonority.
In contrast, consonants are typically less sonorous because their production involves a greater degree of constriction or closure at some point in the vocal tract. Therefore, the answer to the question, 'Which are the most sonorous?' would be 'Vowels and glides'.