Nonpulmonic

Nonpulmonic refers to sounds produced in speech that do not involve the lungs as the primary source of airflow. These sounds are contrasted with pulmonic sounds, which are the vast majority of speech sounds in most languages and are produced by expelling air from the lungs.

There are three main categories of nonpulmonic sounds: clicks, implosives, and ejectives. Clicks are produced by creating a vacuum in the mouth by closing the tongue against the roof of the mouth or teeth and then releasing it, drawing air in. This creates a popping sound. They are common in some Southern African languages.

Implosives are produced by drawing air into the mouth while simultaneously closing the glottis. This creates an inward airflow, which is then released to produce the sound. This inward pressure distinguishes them from pulmonic stops.

Ejectives are produced by building up air pressure in the mouth and then releasing it with a simultaneous closure and rapid opening of the glottis. The glottal closure forces the air out under pressure, creating a distinct popping or creaky sound. Ejectives are found in various languages, particularly in the Caucasus and North America.

Understanding nonpulmonic sounds is important in phonetics and linguistics for accurately describing and classifying the sound systems of different languages. Their presence or absence can significantly characterize a language's phonology.