Protovoiceless

Protovoiceless is a term used in linguistics to describe a stage in the development of language where a child has not yet acquired the ability to produce voiced sounds. This stage is typically observed in the first few months of a child's life, as they are learning to control their vocal cords and produce different sounds. During this protovoiceless stage, children may produce sounds that are either voiceless or voiced, but they may not yet have the ability to produce all the sounds required for speech. The protovoiceless stage is an important milestone in the development of language, as it marks the beginning of a child's ability to produce a wider range of sounds and eventually develop into a fully functional speaker.