IMPLOSIVES Meaning and
Definition
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Implosives, also known as implosive consonants, are a specific class of speech sounds produced by obstructing and then suddenly releasing the airflow in the vocal tract. Unlike most consonants, which are classified as either stops or fricatives, implosives are stops that are created by a downward movement of the glottis rather than an upward movement. In other words, implosives are sounds where the airstream is sucked into the mouth, creating a partial vacuum, before being explosively released.
Implosives are typically characterized by a distinct inward movement of the chest, as well as a low fundamental frequency. This means that the vocal cords are relatively relaxed, resulting in a low-pitched sound. Additionally, implosive consonants often exhibit a glottal closure, meaning that the space between the vocal folds is fully closed before the release of the airflow, leading to a sudden burst when the obstruction is released.
Implosives can be found in a variety of languages, including several African languages, such as Hausa, Zulu, and Yoruba, as well as languages of the Americas, such as Navajo and Mayan. They are less common in many European languages, although some dialects of Norwegian and Swedish do feature implosive sounds.
Overall, implosives are a distinctive type of consonant that is produced by inward airflow and characterized by a sudden release, resulting in a low-pitched sound.
Common Misspellings for IMPLOSIVES
- implosivs
- umplosives
- jmplosives
- kmplosives
- omplosives
- 9mplosives
- 8mplosives
- inplosives
- ikplosives
- ijplosives
- imolosives
- imllosives
- im-losives
- im0losives
- impkosives
- impposives
- impoosives
- implisives
- implksives
- impllsives
Etymology of IMPLOSIVES
The word implosives has its etymology derived from the Latin verb implodere, which means to clap together or to fold inwards. This verb is a combination of the prefix in- meaning in or towards and plodere meaning to clap or to strike.
