glottal (adj.)

A term in the classification of CONSONANT sounds on the basis of PLACE OF ARTICULATION: it is a sound made in the LARYNX, due to the CLOSURE or narrowing of the glottis, the aperture between the VOCAL FOLDS. The audible release of a complete closure at the glottis is known as a glottal stop, transcribed . This is often used in English; e.g. it may be heard before a forcefully articulated VOWEL, as in are you, or between adjacent vowels as in co-operate. In several ACCENTS of English (e.g. those influenced by Cockney) the sound has PHONEMIC status, being used in some positions where RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION has a VOICELESS PLOSIVE ([t] and [k] especially), e.g. bottle  for . Varying degrees of audible FRICTION may also originate at the glottis, as in whispered speech, or the [h] sound in English. Other glottal effects, due to the mode of vibration of the vocal folds, are an important feature of speech sounds, such as VOICING and PITCH variation, and BREATHY and CREAKY phonation.