Glottaalisi

Glottaalisi is a term used in linguistics to describe sounds produced with the glottis, the space between the vocal folds. These sounds are characterized by their engagement of the vocal folds in some manner, whether it be their closure, vibration, or constriction. The most common glottal sound in many languages is the glottal stop, also known as a glottal plosive. This occurs when the vocal folds are brought together tightly, momentarily blocking airflow, and then released. In English, the glottal stop is often heard in the middle of words like "uh-oh" or at the beginning of words starting with a vowel, especially in certain dialects.

Other glottal articulations include the glottal fricative, where the vocal folds are brought close enough to create audible friction as air passes through. The voiceless glottal fricative is represented by the symbol [h] in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and is found at the beginning of words like "hat" in English. The voiced glottal fricative [ɦ] is less common but exists in languages such as Czech and Slovak. Glottalization can also involve the depression or elevation of the larynx, affecting the pitch and quality of sounds, though these are often considered secondary articulations. The study of glottal sounds is crucial for understanding the phonological systems of various languages and the intricate ways humans produce speech.