Glottal Stop

Overview

The glottal stop is a consonant sound made by briefly closing the vocal folds, thus stopping airflow, and then releasing it. It is represented phonetically by the symbol ʔ.

Key Concepts

This sound is characterized by its point of articulation, which is the glottis (the space between the vocal folds). It is an epenthetic sound, meaning it can be inserted into words, and it is often allophonic, varying based on context.

Deep Dive

Phonetically, the glottal stop is a voiceless plosive (or stop) produced at the glottis. Its acoustic properties are distinct, often appearing as a brief silence or a sudden onset of voice.

Applications

In English, the glottal stop is famously used before word-initial vowels (e.g., “apple“) and can replace the /t/ sound in certain contexts (e.g., “butter” as “buʔer”). It also plays a role in distinguishing meaning in some languages.

Challenges & Misconceptions

A common misconception is that the glottal stop is not a ‘real’ sound. However, it is a fully recognized phoneme or allophone in many languages. Its subtle nature can make it difficult for learners to perceive or produce.

FAQs

• Is the glottal stop a vowel or consonant? It is a consonant.
• Where is the glottal stop produced? In the glottis.
• Is it present in all languages? No, its presence and function vary significantly.