Glottal

Part of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

English (General): /ˈɡlɒt.əl/

American English: /ˈɡlɑː.t̬əl/

British English: /ˈɡlɒt.əl/

Definitions

• Relating to or produced by the glottis.
• Describing a sound made by the closure or narrowing of the glottis.

Usage Examples

• The word "uh-oh" contains a glottal stop between the syllables.
• Cockney English often features glottalization of the letter "t."

Etymology

Derived from "glottis" (the opening between the vocal cords) and the suffix "-al" indicating relation.

Synonyms

• Glottic
• Throat-related

Antonyms

• Non-glottal
• Oral

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• North American: /ˈɡlɑː.t̬əl/
• British: /ˈɡlɒt.əl/
• Australian: /ˈɡlɒt.əl/

Historical Usage

The term "glottal" has been used in phonetics since the 19th century, particularly in describing speech sounds that involve the glottis.

Cultural Nuances

Glottal sounds are essential in various languages and dialects. In Arabic and Hawaiian, they are phonemic, while in Cockney and Estuary English, glottalization replaces "t" sounds.

More Information

Glottal articulation plays a key role in phonetics and linguistics. Some languages use glottal stops and consonants as meaningful speech elements, while others employ them as stylistic variations.