Glottis

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox anatomy The glottis (Template:Plural form: glottises or glottides) is the opening between the vocal folds<ref>Ladefoged, Peter. 2006. A course in Phonetics. UCLA.</ref> (the rima glottidis).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The glottis is crucial in producing sound from the vocal folds.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek γλωττίς (glōttís), derived from γλῶττα (glôtta), variant of γλῶσσα (glôssa, "tongue").<ref>wikt:glottis</ref>

Function

Phonation

Template:Main As the vocal folds vibrate, the resulting vibration produces a "buzzing" quality to the speech, called voice or voicing or pronunciation.

Sound production that involves moving the vocal folds close together is called glottal.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> English has a voiceless glottal transition spelled "h". This sound is produced by keeping the vocal folds spread somewhat, resulting in non-turbulent airflow through the glottis.<ref name=":0" /> In many accents of English the glottal stop (made by pressing the folds together) is used as a variant allophone of the phoneme Template:IPA (and in some dialects, occasionally of Template:IPA and Template:IPA); in some languages, this sound is a phoneme of its own.

Skilled players of the Australian didgeridoo restrict their glottal opening in order to produce the full range of timbres available on the instrument.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The vibration produced is an essential component of voiced consonants as well as vowels. If the vocal folds are drawn apart, air flows between them causing no vibration, as in the production of voiceless consonants.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The glottis is also important in the Valsalva maneuver.