Glottal for Dummies

Glottal is a word we use to describe a certain sound that our vocal cords make. Now, I'm sure you're wondering, what are vocal cords? Well, think of them as little strings inside your throat. When you talk or make any sound, these cords vibrate and produce the sound you hear. It's kinda like when you strum the strings of a guitar, and it creates music, but in this case, it's the vocal cords creating sound.

So, back to the word "glottal." When we say a sound is glottal, it means that it's produced by a specific movement of the vocal cords. Imagine you're trying to say the word "uh-oh," but you pause right after saying the "uh" part. That tiny pause you feel in your throat, that's called a glottal stop. The vocal cords briefly close up, and then open again, causing that pause or interruption in the sound. It's kind of like a little hiccup in your speech.

Now, this is just one way we use the word "glottal." There's another meaning we can explore too. Sometimes, when we speak, we control the airflow through our vocal cords. This control can create another type of glottal sound called a glottal fricative. It's kind of like a hissing sound that we make by constricting the air as it passes through our vocal cords. It's similar to the sound you might hear when someone says "uh-oh" angrily or with frustration, and that "hissing" sound comes out.

So, to sum it all up, "glottal" is a word that describes certain sounds we make using our vocal cords. It can refer to a little pause or interruption in speech called a glottal stop, or it can describe a hissing sound called a glottal fricative. I hope that helps you understand what "glottal" means!