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What role does the glottis play in producing speech sounds?
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phonetics
Diagram depicting the location of human vocal organs and possible places of articulation used for speech.
In phonetics, the glottis—the space between the vocal cords—is a fundamental structure for speech production. Its primary role is to regulate the airstream from the lungs, which determines whether a sound is voiced or voiceless.12
When the vocal cords are held apart, air passes freely, resulting in voiceless sounds. When they are adjusted to a narrow passage, the airstream causes them to vibrate, creating voiced sounds. The glottis also facilitates various states that distinguish speech sounds across languages:23
- Glottal stop: A complete closure of the glottis that momentarily halts the airstream.43
- Aspiration: A period of voicelessness during the release of an articulation, where the glottis remains open.3
- Breathy voice (murmur): Produced when the vocal cords vibrate while partially apart, allowing air to escape.3
- Creaky voice (vocal fry): Produced by holding the vocal cords tightly together so only a portion vibrates, resulting in a low-pitched sound.3
By controlling these states, the glottis acts as a critical articulator in shaping the phonetic characteristics of human speech.5