glottisremains

Glottisremains is a coined term in phonetics used to describe a residual glottal configuration that persists after the release of a consonant or during the transition into a vowel. The coinage combines glottis and remains to denote brief glottal activity that persists when the vocal folds would typically be fully open or closed. It is not part of standard phonetic terminology and is used mainly in theoretical discussions or experimental descriptions of glottalization phenomena.

In articulation, glottisremains may result from incomplete glottal closure, sustained creaky or modal voice, or laryngeal adjustments during voicing transitions. This residual activity can influence acoustic measures such as the glottal spectrum, voice onset time, and spectral tilt, depending on timing and context. Some researchers suggest that glottisremains contributes to perceived breathiness or roughness during transition phases.

The term appears in a limited set of academic discussions that explore noncontrastive glottalization, voice quality, or hypothetical models of phonation. It has no wide standard usage, and there is no consensus on its definition or operationalization beyond specific studies. When used, authors typically define the term within the study to ensure clarity.

Critics note the difficulty of generalizing glottisremains across languages and speakers because of variability in laryngeal control. Proponents argue that recognizing such residual glottal activity can help refine models of transitional phonation and provide a more fine-grained description of voice quality during speech.

See also glottis, glottal stop, creaky voice, phonation.