Final answer:
Consonants are classified based on voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation. These phonetic characteristics help distinguish between different consonant sounds in languages, like [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], and [g]. Understanding these details aids in the study of linguistics and proper pronunciation of words.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three pieces of information that classify consonants are voicing, place of articulation, and manner of articulation. Voicing refers to whether the vocal cords vibrate during the production of the consonant sound. Place of articulation is about where in the vocal tract the constriction occurs that produces the consonant sound, such as 'bilabial' for sounds like [p] and [b], where both lips come together. Manner of articulation describes how the airflow is constricted, such as 'stops' for sounds like [t] and [d], where the airflow is completely stopped and then released.
To understand how consonants function in language, it's useful to know specific consonant sounds and their spellings. For instance, the sounds [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], and [g] are differentiated by their voicing and place of articulation, as well as certain sounds like [sh] [f], [v], [s], [z], [m], [n], and 'Eng' that exhibit distinct manners of articulation.