voicedunvoiced

Voiced and unvoiced are terms used in phonetics and linguistics to describe how the vocal cords vibrate when producing speech sounds. Voiced sounds are produced with vibration of the vocal cords, while unvoiced sounds are produced without such vibration. This distinction is a fundamental characteristic of many consonant sounds in most languages.

For example, in English, the sounds /v/ and /f/ are a voiced-unvoiced pair. To produce /v/, the vocal cords vibrate, creating a buzzing sensation. To produce /f/, the vocal cords are held apart, and no vibration occurs, resulting in a hissing sound. Other common voiced-unvoiced pairs include /b/ and /p/, /d/ and /t/, /g/ and /k/, and /z/ and /s/. The presence or absence of vocal cord vibration can significantly alter the meaning of words.

The production of voiced sounds typically involves airflow from the lungs passing through the glottis, causing the vocal cords to oscillate. For unvoiced sounds, the glottis is kept open, preventing the airflow from causing vocal cord vibration. This phonetic feature is crucial for distinguishing between otherwise identical-looking words and plays a vital role in the phonological system of many languages. It is often demonstrated by placing a finger on the throat to feel the vibration.