What are voiced and voiceless sounds?
Introduction to Linguistics is a notable literary work by ___. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Introduction to Linguistics.
Answer
What are voiced and voiceless/unvoiced sounds? Or, what do you mean by voiced and voiceless sounds? Write a note on them.
Every sound in English is different. Some sounds make the throat vibrate. These are called voiced sounds. Others do not make vibrations. These are called voiceless sounds. This difference is very important. It helps in speaking clearly and hearing words correctly. Let us discuss the voiced and voiceless sounds.
Voiced Sounds: Voiced sounds are made with vibrating vocal cords. The vocal cords move and make a buzzing sound. Examples of voiced sounds are /b/, /d/, /g/, /v/, /z/, and /m/. All vowels in English are voiced sounds. Words like “bag” and “van” have voiced sounds. In the word “bag”, the sounds /b/ and /g/ are voiced. The throat vibrates when these sounds are spoken. In “van”, the sound /v/ is voiced. This sound also makes the throat vibrate. Voiced sounds are common in almost every language.
Voiceless Sounds: Voiceless sounds are made with no vibration. The vocal cords stay apart and do not move. Air flows out freely without buzzing. Examples of voiceless sounds are /p/, /t/, /k/, /f/, /s/, and /h/. Words such as “pen,” “cat,” and “fish” have voiceless sounds. In the word “pen,” the sound /p/ is voiceless. In “fish,” the sound /f/ is voiceless. These sounds are made with only air, not voice. The throat stays still when they are spoken.
The Difference: The difference is checked by touching the throat. If a vibration is felt in the throat, the sound is voiced. If a vibration is not felt in the throat, the sound is voiceless.
In short, voiced sounds use vibration in the throat. Voiceless sounds have no vibration at all. Voiced and voiceless sounds are very important in language. They help people speak and listen clearly.