Voicing (source code)

= Voicing

<Voicing> is the use of <vocal fold> vibration during speech production. Airflow and the mechanical state of the <vocal folds> can sustain repeated opening and closing, introducing a periodic component into the emitted sound. The <fundamental frequency> of this repetition contributes to perceived <pitch>.

A practical comparison is to sustain `[s]` and `[z]` while gently feeling the front of the throat: the added vibration during `[z]` makes the distinction tangible. Both involve a similar oral constriction, so the comparison separates <voicing> from <place of articulation> and <manner of articulation>. The physical state of the <glottis> is an additional dimension of the sound.<Essentials of Linguistics by Catherine Anderson>[Section2.6: phonation and the voiced/voiceless distinction]{ref}

A binary transcription is a useful classification rather than a complete time record. <Voicing> can begin, end or weaken during a sound, and an acoustic estimate depends on the interval examined. A <pitch contour> should therefore distinguish missing or unreliable periodicity from a measured low <fundamental frequency>.