phonatie

Phonatie, also known as phonation, is the process by which sound is produced in the human voice through the vibration of the vocal folds within the larynx. As air from the lungs passes through the glottis, the true vocal cords come together and vibrate, creating a sound source. The resulting sound is then shaped by the oral and nasal cavities to form speech, singing, and other vocalizations.

The mechanism relies on the interaction of airflow, tissue properties, and muscle control. Subglottal pressure pushes the vocal folds apart; their elasticity and tension pull them back toward the midline, producing periodic vibration. The vibratory pattern, including the mucosal wave, determines the fundamental frequency (pitch) and voice quality. The degree of vocal fold adduction and the tension set by laryngeal muscles affect loudness and timbre, as well as the ease of phonation.

Phonation can produce a range of voice qualities and register. Modal voice refers to normal speech. Other qualities include creaky voice (low, irregular vibration), breathy voice (partial glottal closure with more airflow), and falsetto (very high pitch with thin, stiff vocal folds). These qualities arise from different glottal configurations and control of subglottal pressure, length, and tension of the vocal folds.

Clinically and linguistically, phonation is central to voice quality, pathology, and speech variation. Dysphonia and other disorders affect vocal fold vibration or closure and may be evaluated with laryngoscopy or stroboscopy, alongside acoustic analysis. Treatment can involve voice therapy, medical management, or surgery aimed at restoring efficient and healthy phonation.