The system I advocate for clarity is basically triangulation:
1) organ making contact; and
2) point of contact.
For the languages we have been discussing, the organ involved, the tongue,
is divided into two areas:
1) front area = coronal;
2) back area = dorsal.
Coronal is further subdivided into:
1) tip = apical; and
2) blade = laminal.
The commonest points of contact for coronals are:
1) teeth = dental;
2) alveolum = alveolar; and
3) farther back on the alveolum = post-alveolar.
The commonest points of contact for dorsals are:
1) palate = palatal;
2) velum = velar; and
3) farther back on the velum = post-velar.
Thus, English /t/ is an alveolar coronal, or more specifically, an alveolar
laminal (coronal).
German /t/ is a dental coronal, or more specifically, a dental apical
(coronal).
This is the system I prefer; it has the advantage of specified the method
of sound production fairly accurately.
Patrick