Glottalization

It is a general term for any articulation involving a simultaneous glottal CONSTRICTION, especially a glottal stop. In English, glottal stops are often used in this way to reinforce a voiceless plosive at the end of a word, as in what? . However, if the opening of the glottis is delayed until after the release of the glottalized sound, a different sound effect is created. Such sounds, made while the glottis is closed, are produced without the direct involvement of air from the lungs. Air is compressed in the mouth or PHARYNX above the glottal closure, and released while the breath is still held: the resultant sounds produced in this glottalic AIRSTREAM MECHANISM are known as EJECTIVE sounds. They are also called ‘glottalic’ or glottalized sounds (though the latter term is often restricted to sounds where the glottal feature is a SECONDARY ARTICULATION). They are transcribed with a following raised glottal stop sign or apostrophe, as in [p’], [t’], [s’]. In English, such sounds have only STYLISTIC force (as when I think might be said in a clipped precise manner, producing an ejective [k’] in think), but in languages like Quechua and Hausa ejective consonants are used as phonemes. A further category of sounds involving a glottalic airstream mechanism is known as IMPLOSIVE.

In Chomsky and Halle’s DISTINCTIVE FEATURE theory of PHONOLOGY, glottal constrictions constitute one of the types of sound set up to handle variations in place of articulation (CAVITY features). Glottal constrictions are formed by narrowing the glottis beyond its neutral position, as in the above sounds.