Topic-097: States of the Glottis As discussed earlier, the space between the vocal folds (glottis - inside the larynx) can assume a number of positions thus modifying the form of speech sounds and changing the features of it. When brought into light this contact of vocal folds with each other, the shape of vibration (of air passage) is forced to produce phonation or voicing. So, based on the possibilities of the nature of vibration, the states of glottis are determined thus the vibration can be made to vary in many ways, resulting in differences in such things as pitch, loudness and voice quality. If a narrow opening is made between the vocal folds, friction noise can result and this is found in whispering and in the glottal fricative h. A more widely Copyright Virtual University of Pakistan
Phonetics and Phonology (ENG)
VU open glottis is found inmost voiceless consonants. In Table 6.6 (chapter six of your coursebook, four possible states of the glottis are given. Go through them and explore further.
