Ballistic syllables are a phonemic distinction in
Otomanguean languages:
Chinantec and
Amuzgo. They have been described as characterized with increased sub-
glottal pressure (Mugele 1982) or
laryngeal abduction (Silverman 1994). The acoustic effect is a
fortis
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release of the consonant, a gradual surge in the intensity of the vowel, followed by a rapid decay in intensity into post-vocalic
aspiration. They may thus be a form of
phonation
The term phonation has slightly different meanings depending on the subfield of phonetics. Among some phoneticians, ''phonation'' is the process by which the vocal folds produce certain sounds through quasi-periodic vibration. This is the defi ...
.
Non-ballistic syllables are, by contrast, called "controlled."
See
Chinantec of Ozumacín for examples.
References
*
*
Phonation
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