This paper attempts to investigate whether velarization is a scalar articulatory feature and if an increase in degree of velarization conveys an increment in the degree of constraint upon tongue dorsum activity. Electropalatographic and acoustical data for [1] in different languages and contextual conditions allow isolating three degrees of velarization in the consonant. Precise articulatory and acoustic correlates are given for each velarization group. Moreover V-to-C coarticulatory effects in dorsopalatal contact were found to decrease with degree of velarization for [1] thus suggesting that changes in degree of velarization convey modifications in degree of articulatory constraint.