Glottal stop meaning

Glottal stop is a speech sound in which the airflow is stopped by the closure of the vocal cords, creating a sudden silence in pronunciation.


Glottal stop definitions

Word backwards lattolg pots
Part of speech Noun
Syllabic division glot-tal stop
Plural The plural of the word "glottal stop" is "glottal stops."
Total letters 11
Vogais (2) o,a
Consonants (5) g,l,t,s,p

When we speak, our vocal cords play a crucial role in producing sounds. One important sound in language is the glottal stop. The glottal stop is a type of consonantal sound that is made by closing the vocal cords to momentarily stop the flow of air. This stop results in a distinctive sound that can be found in many languages around the world.

Formation of Glottal Stop

The glottal stop is made by closing the vocal cords, causing a momentary blockage of airflow. This closure creates a buildup of air pressure behind the vocal cords. When the closure is released, the pressure is suddenly released, producing the distinct sound of a glottal stop. It is often more common in informal speech or as a marker in certain languages.

Usage in Different Languages

The glottal stop is present in many languages, including English, Arabic, Hawaiian, and many indigenous languages. In English, the glottal stop can be heard in words like "uh-oh" or in the Cockney dialect of London, where it replaces the /t/ sound in words like "bottle" becoming "bolle". In Arabic, the glottal stop is a distinct phoneme represented by the letter 'ء'.

Transcription and Representation

When transcribing the glottal stop, it is often represented by the symbol "?" or with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol [ʔ]. This helps linguists and phoneticians accurately depict the presence of a glottal stop in spoken language. Understanding and recognizing the glottal stop is essential in linguistics and language studies.

In conclusion, the glottal stop is a significant sound in language that is produced by a momentary closure of the vocal cords. Its presence can be found in various languages worldwide and plays a crucial role in phonetics and linguistics. By studying the glottal stop, researchers gain a deeper understanding of how sounds are formed and used in spoken communication.


Glottal stop Examples

  1. She pronounced the glottal stop in the word "bottle" with precision.
  2. The linguist explained the importance of the glottal stop in phonetics.
  3. In some languages, the glottal stop is a distinct phoneme.
  4. The singer used a glottal stop to add emphasis to the lyrics.
  5. He struggled to produce the glottal stop in the word "uh-oh".
  6. The actor's accent included a noticeable glottal stop.
  7. The teacher demonstrated how to make a glottal stop to the students.
  8. The poet used the glottal stop as a poetic device in the verse.
  9. His regional dialect featured a unique glottal stop sound.
  10. The speech therapist worked with the client to improve their glottal stop accuracy.


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  • Updated 21/04/2024 - 12:04:48