How Do You Spell GLOTTAL CONSONANT?

Pronunciation: [ɡlˈɒtə͡l kˈɒnsənənt] (IPA)

The term "glottal consonant" refers to a sound that is produced by using the vocal cords to create a closure in the glottis. Examples of glottal consonants include the English sounds in "uh-oh" and "hut." The word "glottal" is pronounced /ˈɡlɒt.əl/, with the stress on the first syllable. The consonant sound at the beginning of the word is a voiced velar stop, represented in IPA as /ɡ/. The second syllable contains a short "o" sound, followed by a "t" sound and finally, the schwa vowel /əl/.

GLOTTAL CONSONANT Meaning and Definition

1. A glottal consonant refers to a specific type of speech sound produced in the vocal tract, where the primary articulator is the glottis. The glottis is the opening between the vocal cords in the larynx. Unlike traditional consonants that are produced by obstructing or altering the airflow somewhere in the oral cavity, glottal consonants are created by manipulating the airflow at the level of the vocal cords themselves.

   To produce a glottal consonant, the vocal cords briefly close or come together, causing an interruption of the airflow. This closure might be for only a split second or maintained for a longer duration, depending on the specific glottal consonant being produced. As a result, glottal consonants often have a characteristic "h" or "uh" sound.

   In English, the glottal stop is the most well-known glottal consonant. It is produced by momentarily closing the vocal cords, creating a gap, and then releasing the air suddenly. This sound is commonly heard in words like "uh-oh" and the Cockney pronunciation of "bottle" as "bo'el."

   Glottal consonants are found in several languages around the world and can have various articulations and functions. They can occur as individual sounds within a language or be combined with other sounds, acting as phonemes in their own right. Additionally, they can be used to distinguish meaning in words, just like any other consonant.

Etymology of GLOTTAL CONSONANT

The word "glottal" is derived from the Latin word "glottis", which means "the tongue". The term "glottal" refers to the area of the vocal apparatus called the glottis. The glottis consists of the vocal folds and the space between them, which is the main source of phonation or sound production in human speech.

The term "consonant" comes from the Latin word "consonare", which means "to sound together". Consonants are speech sounds produced by restricting the airflow or obstructing it in some way.

Putting the two parts together, "glottal consonant" refers to a consonant sound that is produced by constriction or obstruction at the glottis.