voicing

Meanings

1. 1noununcountabletechnicalspecialist

   In phonetics, the vibration of the vocal cords while a sound is made, which separates sounds like /z/ from /s/.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: voicing is the main difference between /b/ and /p/.

   Patterns

   • the voicing of something
   • voicing contrast

   The only difference between /s/ and /z/ is voicing.

   Learners sometimes drop the voicing at the end of words like 'dog'.

   Voicing can be felt by touching your throat while you speak.

2. 2nouncountable or uncountablemusic

   In music, the way the notes of a chord are arranged or spread across instruments or pitches.

   Grammar: Can be counted when comparing options: two different voicings of the same chord.

   Patterns

   • the voicing of a chord
   • a jazz voicing

   The pianist chose a wide voicing for the final chord.

   Different voicings of one chord can sound very different.

   Good voicing keeps the harmony clear in a small band.

3. 3verbtransitive

   The -ing form of voice: saying out loud a feeling or opinion, or giving a sound a voiced quality.

   Grammar: Takes an object: she is voicing her concerns.

   Patterns

   • voicing something to someone
   • voicing doubts about something

   Several parents are voicing concerns about the new schedule.

   He kept voicing his doubts to anyone who would listen.

   The actor is voicing a character in the new animated film.

Word forms

Common combinations

voicing concerns

Residents are voicing concerns about traffic.

voicing an opinion

She was not afraid of voicing an opinion in meetings.

voicing contrast

English has a voicing contrast between /t/ and /d/.

chord voicing

Chord voicing matters in jazz piano.

voicing a character

He earns a living voicing a character in cartoons.

Synonyms and how they differ

expressing

Expressing is broader and can be done in writing or action, while voicing means putting thoughts into spoken words.

articulating

Articulating stresses saying something clearly and precisely, whereas voicing simply means saying it aloud.

vocalization

Vocalization refers to producing any sound with the voice, while voicing in linguistics is the specific vibration of the vocal cords.

Opposites

Word family

voice verb

to say aloud, or to give a sound vocal-cord vibration

voiced adjective

made with vibration of the vocal cords

voiceless adjective

made without vocal-cord vibration, or without a voice

devoicing noun

the loss of vocal-cord vibration in a sound

Commonly confused: voicing or voicing vs. voice?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “voicing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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