devocalization
1
9.9
- noun
- /dɪˌvoʊkəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
- NSFW
:
devocalización
- Though they've never met in person, the two women have joined to launch an online petition demanding that the AVMA, the nation's leading group of veterinarians, condemn devocalization when the organization reviews its policy on the procedure later this year.
Examples
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Many animal advocacy groups are pushing for laws against devocalization to protect pets from unnecessary harm.
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Perry and Mahmud believe the AVMA's reach is so broad, representing more than 82,500 veterinarians in the U.S., that the group should take the lead in opposing devocalization in the U.S.
Blog text (21) -
The group currently opposes the practice in general, but says devocalization may be used when other efforts have failed as a "final alternative" to relinquishing or euthanizing an animal.
Blog text (21) -
That's because although there are other surgical procedures performed in that area, devocalization is never a medically necessary procedure, said Joel Woolfson, a board-certified veterinary surgeon in private practice in Medway, Mass.
Blog text (21) -
Last July, Massachusetts became the first state to ban elective devocalization surgeries for cats or dogs.
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Veterinarians often discuss the risks associated with devocalization before performing the procedure on an animal.
Surface Forms
Morphology
devocalization = vocalization (semi-transparent) = de + vocal + ization
Adding de- to vocalization is a straightforward prefixation that indicates removal of vocal ability.
Etymology
Devocalization comes from de- 'remove' and vocal 'voice', so it literally means taking away the voice-making parts, which is why the word is used for the surgery that reduces or ends an animal's ability to make normal sounds.