phonations

Phonation is the process by which the vocal sound is produced through the vibration of the vocal folds within the larynx. Air expelled from the lungs sets the vocal folds into oscillation, and adjustments of the laryngeal muscles alter length, tension, and edge contact. The vibrating folds modulate the glottal airflow and create a periodic signal that is then shaped by the vocal tract into speech sounds or singing.

Voicing ranges from modal phonation—the typical voice used in everyday speech—to a variety of phonation types characterized by glottal configuration and degree of closure. Breathy voice occurs when the folds are inadequately closed, allowing more air to escape; creaky voice involves low fundamental frequency and irregular vibration; pressed voice features strong adduction and high tension; these differences can also occur as phonemic contrasts in some languages and in singing.

Assessment of phonation uses acoustic metrics (pitch, intensity, spectral tilt), and laryngeal imaging or contact measures such as electroglottography and stroboscopy. Clinically, abnormal phonation is linked to dysphonia or voice disorders, often arising from structural lesions, nerve damage, or overuse. Phonatory quality interacts with articulation and nasality, and cross-linguistically, some languages use distinctions in phonation to convey contrastive meaning.