Intermediate
Technical
IVT
glottal stop
Pronunciation: GLOT-ul stop
A speech sound produced by complete closure of the vocal cords, creating a brief interruption in airflow.
Full Definition
A glottal stop is a consonantal sound created when the vocal cords are brought together tightly, completely stopping airflow through the glottis. In English, glottal stops occur naturally in certain contexts, such as before vowel-initial words in emphatic speech. However, excessive use of glottal stops can indicate vocal hyperfunction or compensatory articulation patterns. Speech-language pathologists assess glottal stop usage when evaluating voice quality and articulation disorders.
Usage
Usage note: Often transcribed using the IPA symbol [ʔ] in phonetic transcriptions.
In Context
- "The assessment revealed frequent glottal stop substitutions for voiceless plosives." — Articulation assessment report
- "Reducing glottal stop initiation was a primary goal in the voice therapy program." — Treatment planning documentation
Also known as
glottal plosive
Don't confuse with
vocal fry
creaky voice