This study examines dental, alveolar, retroflex and palatal lateral formants. Data are taken from three languages of Central Australia: Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara and Warlpiri. Results show that in relation to the alveolar lateral, the dental has a lower F1 and a higher F4; the retroflex has lower F3 and F4 and slightly higher F2; and the palatal has lower F1 and higher F2, F3 and F4. These results are discussed in light of various acoustic models of lateral production.