What is a breathy vowel?

Definition
	A breathy vowel is one produced by allowing a great deal of air to pass through a slightly open glottis, the aperture between the vocal cords (Crystal 1985 38 ).

See also
	Options for symbolizing voiceless vowels

Concept module: breathy vowel
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): B
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 29 March 1996