How to Make Voice and Voiceless Sounds

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SUMMARY

This discussion clarifies the mechanics of producing voiced and voiceless sounds, emphasizing the role of the vocal cords rather than the glottis. To create voiceless sounds, the vocal cords remain apart and tense, while voiced sounds require the cords to vibrate. The participants explored pairs of sounds such as 'b' versus 'p', 'd' versus 't', 'g' versus 'k', and 'z' versus 's', confirming that the distinction lies in vocal cord activity. The discussion also highlights the universal nature of vowel voicing across languages, including English and Vietnamese.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of phonetics and phonology
  • Knowledge of voiced and voiceless consonants
  • Familiarity with the anatomy of the vocal apparatus
  • Basic experience with sound production in languages
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the anatomy and function of the vocal cords
  • Explore phonetic transcription of voiced and voiceless sounds
  • Practice producing voiced and voiceless consonant pairs
  • Learn about the role of whispering in sound production
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Language learners, linguists, speech therapists, and anyone interested in the mechanics of sound production and phonetics.

fxdung
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Is this correct: to make voiceless sound the glotis more open and more tense; to make voice sound the glotis more narrow and less tense?I don't know how to make the vocal cord vibrate and to make it not vibrate?
 
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What do you do differently between the following pairs of sounds? (first is voiced, second is voiceless)

'b' versus 'p'
'd' versus 't'
'g' versus 'k'
'z' versus 's'

Do any of these pairs both exist in Vietnamese (which is your native language, if I remember correctly)?
 
The glottis has nothing to do with voicing. At least not in the English language. It's all about the vocal cords.

fxdung said:
I don't know how to make the vocal cord vibrate and to make it not vibrate?
In all languages most vowels are voiced. Put your hand on your neck where the larynx is and start pronouncing the vowels you know. Of English, or Vietnamese. Any language really. You will feel vibration in the voice box.
Then say those same vowels, but whispering. Whispering disengages the vocal cords. Your hand will sense a lack of vibration.
You want to control that vibration to contrast the voiced/unvoiced consonants.
 
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