phonation

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnical

   The act of making voiced sound through the vibration of the vocal cords.

   Grammar: Used as a mass noun; it rarely takes a plural and is not used with 'a'.

   Patterns

   • phonation occurs
   • the production of phonation
   • normal phonation

   The doctor explained that phonation happens when air from the lungs makes the vocal cords vibrate.

   Damage to the nerves can affect phonation, making the voice sound breathy.

   In singing lessons, students learn to control their phonation for a steadier tone.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The study or description of voiced sound production in speech.

   Grammar: Used in linguistics as a general label for this area of study.

   Patterns

   • the phonation of a language
   • study phonation

   Her research focuses on the phonation of vowels in different accents.

   The course covers articulation and phonation in equal measure.

Common combinations

vocal phonation

Vocal phonation requires steady airflow from the lungs.

phonation disorder

A phonation disorder can make speech hard to understand.

normal phonation

After therapy, her phonation returned to normal.

phonation process

The phonation process involves several muscles in the throat.

Synonyms and how they differ

voicing

Voicing is the broader everyday term for the same vibration; phonation is the technical term used in medicine and linguistics.

vocalization

Vocalization can mean any sound made with the voice, while phonation refers specifically to the vibration of the vocal cords.

Word family

phonate verb

To produce voiced sound with the vocal cords.

phonatory adjective

Relating to the production of voiced sound.

Commonly confused: phonation or pronunciation?

Practice

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