ääniluokka

An ääniluokka, often translated as "voice class" or "sound class," is a linguistic concept used to categorize phonemes based on their phonetic properties. Specifically, it refers to whether a sound is produced with vibration of the vocal cords (voiced) or without (voiceless). This distinction is a fundamental feature in the articulation of many consonants, and also plays a role in distinguishing vowels in some languages.

In articulatory phonetics, a sound is classified as voiced if the vocal folds vibrate during its production. This vibration creates a characteristic buzzing quality. Conversely, a sound is considered voiceless if the vocal folds are held apart, allowing air to pass through without vibration. The place and manner of articulation also contribute to the classification of consonants, but the presence or absence of vocal cord vibration is the defining characteristic of ääniluokka.

For example, in English, the sounds /b/ and /p/ are both bilabial stops, meaning they are produced by stopping airflow with both lips. However, /b/ is voiced, while /p/ is voiceless. Similarly, /d/ and /t/ are alveolar stops, with /d/ being voiced and /t/ voiceless. The difference between voiced and voiceless sounds can be perceived by placing a hand on the throat and feeling for vibrations when producing the sounds. In many languages, this voicing distinction is phonemic, meaning it can change the meaning of a word. While primarily applied to consonants, the concept of voicing can also be relevant to vowels, which are almost universally voiced.