GLOTTALIZATION Meaning and
Definition
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Glottalization is a linguistics term that refers to a phonetic phenomenon involving the use of the glottis, which is the space between the vocal cords in the larynx. It is essentially a process of articulating speech sounds by modifying the opening and closing of the glottal space.
In glottalization, the glottis is used to produce sounds in the form of glottal stops or glottal fricatives. A glottal stop is an abrupt closure of the glottis, temporarily blocking the flow of air through the vocal tract. This creates a brief silence in the spoken language. Glottal fricatives, on the other hand, occur when the vocal cords are tensed, causing turbulent airflow and producing a friction-like sound.
Glottalization can be found in many languages and is often used as a phoneme in its own right or as a feature of other phonemes. For example, in English, glottalization is commonly heard in words like "uh-oh," where the glottal stop replaces the "t" sound. In some languages, such as Arabic and Hawaiian, glottalization is a crucial feature with its own distinct phonetic representation.
This articulatory process confers different intonational and rhythmic patterns to speech, and it can also influence the perception and meaning of words. Glottalization is an essential element in the study of phonetics and phonology, as it helps researchers understand the intricacies of speech production and pronunciation variations across different languages.
Common Misspellings for GLOTTALIZATION
- flottalization
- vlottalization
- blottalization
- hlottalization
- ylottalization
- tlottalization
- gkottalization
- gpottalization
- goottalization
- glittalization
- glkttalization
- gllttalization
- glpttalization
- gl0ttalization
- gl9ttalization
- glottzlization
- glottslization
- glottwlization
- glottqlization
- glottakization
Etymology of GLOTTALIZATION
The word "glottalization" comes from the combining form "glottal", which is derived from the Greek word "glōttis" meaning "mouth of a river". The suffix "-ize" indicates the process of making something. Therefore, "glottalization" refers to the process of producing a sound by using the glottis, specifically when a consonant is formed by partially closing the glottis, causing the vocal cords to vibrate.
