IPA [ʐʲ]
AS [ž′]
positional variant (does not occur in isolation)
Based on Maciołek & Tambor (2012)
Voiced: the vocal folds are in contact, the air coming from the lungs causes them to vibrate.
Retroflex: the tip of the tongue gets close to the upper palate behind the alveolar ridge. At the same time the back of the tongue rises towards the soft palate. The lips are slightly rounded.
Palatalized: the middle of the tongue gets closer to the hard palate as a secondary articulation.
Fricative: there is a narrow passage between the articulators, the air from the lungs hits the edge of the passage and creates noise.