Note on Voiced and Voiceless Sounds

In phonetics, the terms voiced and voiceless refer to the state of the vocal cords (or vocal folds) during the production of a speech sound. This distinction is one of the three primary components (alongside Place and Manner of Articulation) used to describe and classify consonant sounds.

1. Voiced Sounds (ঘোষ ধ্বনি)

Mechanism

Voiced sounds are produced when the vocal cords are brought together and rapidly vibrate as air passes through the glottis (the space between the vocal cords).

• Acoustic Result: The vibration adds a low-frequency buzzing or humming sound, known as voicing.
• How to Feel It: Place your fingers lightly on your throat (larynx) while saying the sound /z/ or /b/. You should feel a distinct vibration.

Examples of Voiced Consonants:

Stops: /b/, /d/, /g/
Fricatives: /v/, /z/, /ð/ (as in *that*), /ʒ/ (as in *pleasure*)
Other Sonorants: /m/, /n/, /l/, /r/, /w/, /j/ (all typically voiced)

2. Voiceless Sounds (অঘোষ ধ্বনি)

Mechanism

Voiceless sounds are produced when the vocal cords are held wide apart and do not vibrate.

• Acoustic Result: The sound consists purely of the noise generated by the articulation in the mouth (e.g., the friction in a fricative or the burst in a stop).
• How to Feel It: Place your fingers on your throat while saying the sound /s/ or /p/. You should feel no vibration at all.

Examples of Voiceless Consonants:

Stops: /p/, /t/, /k/
Fricatives: /f/, /s/, /θ/ (as in *thin*), /ʃ/ (as in *ship*), /h/ (Glottal)

3. Minimal Pairs (Voicing Contrast)

Voicing is a phonemic distinction in English, meaning it can change the entire meaning of a word. Sounds that differ only in voicing are often called **minimal pairs**:

Voiceless Sound	Word	Voiced Sound	Word
/p/	pat	/b/	bat
/t/	tin	/d/	din
/f/	fan	/v/	van
/s/	sip	/z/	zip