exhalatív

Exhalativ is a term used in linguistics to describe a sound produced with an outward flow of air from the lungs. This outward movement of air is fundamental to the production of almost all speech sounds. When we speak, sing, or even sigh, air is expelled from our lungs, passes through the vocal tract, and is released. The way this expelled air is modified by the articulators, such as the tongue, lips, and vocal cords, creates the distinct sounds we perceive as language.

The concept of exhalation is central to phonetics, the study of speech sounds. It distinguishes speech sounds from other physiological sounds that might involve inward airflow, although these are rare and not typically considered part of speech production. For instance, a gasp or an inhalation sound can be made with inward airflow, but these are not classified as exhalative sounds in the context of normal speech. All vowels and most consonants are produced with an exhalative airflow. The specific characteristics of these sounds depend on the manner of articulation and place of articulation, but the underlying mechanism of air expulsion remains constant. Understanding exhalative airflow is a basic step in comprehending how humans produce sound for communication.