How is Voice Onset Time (VOT) defined?

Voice Onset Time (VOT) is defined as the interval between the release of a stop consonant and the onset of vocal fold vibration. This measurement is crucial in distinguishing between voiced and voiceless consonants in speech. For example, in English, the difference in VOT helps differentiate between sounds like /b/ and /p/. In the case of /b/, the vocal folds begin to vibrate almost immediately after the consonant is released, resulting in a shorter VOT. Conversely, for /p/, there is a longer period of silence before vocal fold vibration begins, indicating a longer VOT.

Understanding VOT is essential in speech science because it plays a significant role in phonetics and the acoustic properties of speech sounds, influencing how we perceive differences among consonants.