Which consonants are produced without vibrating the vocal cords?

Which consonants are produced without vibrating the vocal cords?

• A. Voiced consonants
• B. Unvoiced consonants
• C. Nasal consonants
• D. Liquid consonants

Answer: (B)

Voicing is about whether the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation of a consonant. Consonants produced without vibrating the vocal cords are unvoiced (also called voiceless) consonants. You can feel the difference by placing a finger on your throat and saying sounds like p, t, and k—there’s little to no vibration—and compare with b, d, and g, where you can feel a clear buzz. The question isn’t about whether air goes through the nose or mouth (nasals and liquids describe those airflow patterns), but about whether the vocal cords vibrate. So unvoiced consonants are the ones produced without vocal‑cord vibration.

Voicing is about whether the vocal cords vibrate during the articulation of a consonant. Consonants produced without vibrating the vocal cords are unvoiced (also called voiceless) consonants. You can feel the difference by placing a finger on your throat and saying sounds like p, t, and k—there’s little to no vibration—and compare with b, d, and g, where you can feel a clear buzz. The question isn’t about whether air goes through the nose or mouth (nasals and liquids describe those airflow patterns), but about whether the vocal cords vibrate. So unvoiced consonants are the ones produced without vocal‑cord vibration.