What does unvoicing mean?
Unvoicing is the process of making a voiced sound voiceless. In phonetics, a voiced sound is one produced with vibration of the vocal folds, as in many vowels and consonants such as /z/ or /v/. During unvoicing, that vibration is reduced or stops entirely, producing a sound such as /s/ or /f/. The process can occur naturally in particular speech sounds or be deliberately introduced in speech and language activities. In scientific discussion, unvoicing is often treated as a form of devoicing, especially when describing consonants that lose their original voice. It is useful for understanding how small articulatory changes can distinguish words, affect pronunciation across languages, and contribute to speech intelligibility.
nounThe phonetic process of making a voiced sound voiceless, especially by reducing or eliminating vibration of the vocal folds. The term can also refer more generally to the removal of voicing from speech or a sound.
- The phonetic process of making a voiced sound voiceless by reducing or eliminating vocal-fold vibration.
"The phonetics lab recorded the unvoicing of final consonants in several dialects."
"The study examined unvoicing of voiced stops at the end of words."
"The teacher asked students to identify the unvoicing that occurred between the two vowels."
The plural is possible but uncommon in ordinary usage; plural forms usually occur in technical or analytical writing.
"The research compares unvoicings across several languages."
Unvoicing turns a vibrating sound into a silent one, showing how a small change in the vocal folds can alter the meaning and character of speech.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unvoicing come from?
The word is an English formation made by combining the prefix un-, meaning reversal or removal, with voice and the noun-forming suffix -ing. Voice itself comes through Old French from Latin vox, meaning voice or word. The related adjective voiceless and the technical noun devoicing were likewise formed from the same verbal and noun root.
Related word forms
How unvoicing is actually used
A technical term used primarily in phonetics, phonology, and speech science. It is more precise and specialized than the general phrase loss of voice, and it should not be confused with the broader medical condition of loss of vocal function.
Easily confused with unvoicing
Unvoicing is the process of removing vocal-fold vibration, whereas unvoiced describes a sound that is produced without that vibration.