What does vocalization mean?
Vocalization is the noun for the act or process of making sounds with the voice. It can describe a speaker’s use of the voice, a singer’s production of notes, or the expressive vocalizations of an animal. In voice and speech training, instructors may ask performers to improve their vocalization by focusing on clarity, breath control, pitch, and resonance. In discussions of animal behavior, the word often refers to the calls or other sounds birds and other creatures use to communicate. Vocalization is related to voicing, articulation, phonation, and vocal expression, although those terms emphasize different aspects of vocal production. The word is useful because it covers both the general process and the particular sounds produced by a voice, while the frequently encountered form “vocalizations” can refer to a group of expressive or communicative utterances.
nounThe act or process of producing sounds with the voice, especially through speech, song, or expressive vocal sounds. It can also refer to an individual vocal sound or utterance.
- The act or process of producing sounds with the voice, especially in speech, singing, or vocal exercises.
- A particular vocal sound, utterance, or sequence of vocal sounds, as in the calls of an animal.
"The singer controlled her vocalization so that the quiet passage remained clear and expressive."
"The therapist asked the patient to monitor her vocalization during the exercise."
"The recording captured the nocturnal vocalizations of birds in the forest."
The plural is standard and is especially natural for individual sounds, utterances, or communicative calls.
"The animal made several short vocalizations in response to the sound."
From a singer's carefully shaped vowels to a bird's complex call, vocalization turns breath into patterned sound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vocalization come from?
Vocalization was formed in English from vocalize, which combines vocal with the suffix -ize; the noun then adds the suffix -ation. Vocal comes through Latin vocalis, meaning “of the voice” or “spoken,” ultimately from vox, meaning “voice.” Related English forms include voice, vocal, vocable, and vocalize.
How vocalization is actually used
The term is neutral in general use but is especially common in voice training, singing, linguistics, and animal communication. British English often uses the spelling "vocalisation".
Easily confused with vocalization
Vocalise is the British spelling of the verb vocalize, while vocalization is the noun naming the act or process of producing vocal sounds.