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🐶 Surgical silencing 🤐 Loss of voice 🔇 Sound becomes voiceless
devocalization

devocalization

9.5
A sound normally made with the voice that loses its voice in speech
  • noun
  • /ˌdiːvoʊkəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : devocalización
  • The devocalization of certain consonants is common in the evolution of many languages.

Examples

  • In some dialects, devocalization affects the final sounds of words.

  • The devocalization of certain sounds can change the meaning of words.

  • Linguists study devocalization to understand historical changes in pronunciation.

  • Linguists study devocalization to understand speech patterns.

  • Linguists analyze devocalization in order to track how sounds have shifted over time.

  • The phenomenon of devocalization can result in significant differences in regional accents.

  • Research on devocalization reveals its impact on the clarity of spoken language.

Synonyms

devoicing
vsdevocalization
  • Specialized
7.4

To make a sound without using your voice

includes vowels and other voiced sounds losing vocal fold vibration
voicelessness
vsdevocalization
  • Specialized
7.9

A speech sound made without the vocal cords vibrating

describes a change that makes sounds lose their vocal quality

Antonyms

voicing
3.9

To make sounds with your mouth and throat when speaking, singing, or acting as a character

How Voiced

voicing
3.9
devocalization
  • Specialized
9.5
devoicing
  • Specialized
7.4

Surface Forms

devocalization singular
devocalizations plural

Morphology

devocalization = devocalize (semi-transparent) = de + vocal + ize + ation

This is a regular noun of process formed from the verb 'devocalize' with '-ation'.

Etymology

Devocalization comes from de- 'remove' and vocal 'voice', and in language study it describes when a vowel or voiced sound 'loses its voice' and becomes voiceless or whisper-like, which explains its use in phonetics.