What is a "glottal stop"?

A glottal stop is identified as a consonant sound that is produced by obstructing airflow at the glottis, which is the space between the vocal cords. This type of sound occurs when the vocal folds are tightly closed, blocking airflow temporarily before they are released, leading to the sound being formed.

The glottal stop can be found in various languages and is often represented by the symbol [ʔ] in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It can occur in words or syllables, for example, in the middle of the English expression “uh-oh.” This sound is distinct from sounds produced with the lips or teeth, and it does not involve the characteristics of fricative sounds that require a continuous airflow through a narrow passage.

Understanding the glottal stop provides deeper insights into speech production, particularly how airflow control contributes to various speech sounds. This knowledge is essential in the field of speech science and phonetics.