Where does the resonance of vocal fold vibrations occur when producing nasal sounds?

In the production of nasal sounds, resonance occurs primarily through the nasal cavity. When articulating nasal sounds, the velum, which is the soft part of the roof of the mouth toward the back, lowers to allow airflow into the nasal cavity. This airflow, combined with the vibration of the vocal folds, creates a unique resonant quality specific to nasal sounds, such as /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/.

The sound produced in the vocal folds itself is rich in harmonics, but the resonance that characterizes nasal sounds specifically arises from the nasal cavity. This is a defining feature of nasal phonation, as the nasal cavity serves to amplify and modify the sound waves produced, resulting in the distinct quality that identifies nasal consonants. Thus, recognizing the role of the nasal cavity in resonance during the production of these sounds is crucial to understanding speech science and phonetics.