The word "devoice" is spelled with the prefix "de-" meaning "undo" or "remove" and the root word "voice" meaning "to make vocal sounds". The "e" at the end of "voice" is dropped when the prefix is added, resulting in the spelling "devoice". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /diˈvɔɪs/, with the stress on the second syllable. The pronunciation can be broken down as "dee-VOYS". It means to deprive someone of their right to speak or to withdraw support from someone.
Devoice is a verb that primarily refers to the act of taking away or removing someone's voice or ability to speak. It involves the deliberate deprivation or denial of one's vocal or communication skills. The term is often used metaphorically to describe situations where individuals or groups are silenced, censored, or oppressed, preventing them from expressing their opinions, thoughts, or concerns freely.
In a literal sense, devoice can also be used to describe the process of losing one's ability to produce sound due to injury, illness, or physical impairment. This could include conditions such as laryngitis, damaged vocal cords, or even a debilitating stroke that impacts one's ability to articulate words.
Additionally, devoice can be applied to linguistic analysis, particularly in phonetics and phonology. It is used to describe the transformation of a voiced sound (produced with vibrating vocal cords) into an unvoiced or voiceless sound (produced without vocal cord vibration). For example, the transition of the voiced /b/ sound to the voiceless /p/ sound in the word "tab" during speech is an instance of devoicing.
Overall, devoice encompasses both the literal and metaphorical notions of depriving someone of their voice, whether by silencing them directly, impeding their ability to speak physically, or transforming vocal sounds from voiced to unvoiced.
The word "devoice" is derived from the Latin roots "de" and "vox", which mean "away" and "voice" respectively. In English, it underwent a process called derivation, where the prefix "de-" was added to the word "voice" to create the verb "devoice". It originally entered the English language in the late 19th century and is commonly used when referring to stripping a sound, typically a consonant, of its voiced quality.