Nazális

Nazális is a term used in several fields to describe things related to the nose. In anatomy, it denotes the nose and the nasal passages. In linguistics, nazális refers to sounds and processes produced with air flowing through the nasal cavity, typically via a lowered velum.

Anatomically, the nazális region includes the external nose and the internal nasal cavities, the nasal septum, turbinates, and the paranasal sinuses. The nasal cavities filter, warm, and humidify inhaled air and connect to the pharynx through the choanae. Proper nasal function supports breathing, smell, and voice resonance; obstruction or infection can impair these functions and affect speech.

In phonetics, nazális consonants are produced with the velum lowered, allowing air to escape through the nose. Common nazális consonants include m, n, and ŋ, and they can be bilabial, alveolar, or velar. Nasal vowels occur when air resonates in the nasal cavity while the oral tract is open or closed in specific ways; they are phonemic in some languages (for example, French and Portuguese) and are often indicated in transcription with a tilde over the vowel (ã, õ, ũ, etc.).

Nasality can be phonemic or allophonic, and many languages exhibit nasalization in various contexts. In medical contexts, nazális conditions include rhinitis, nasal obstruction, and sinusitis, which can affect breathing, smell, and speech quality. Related concepts include nasal consonants, nasal vowels, and the anatomy of the nasal cavity.