A vocal sound made without the audible stopping of breath is called, by definition, which of the following?

A vocal sound made without the audible stopping of breath is called, by definition, which of the following?

• A. Vowel
• B. Consonant
• C. Diphthong
• D. Glottal stop

Answer: (A)

Vowels are produced with an open vocal tract and continuous air flow, typically voiced, so there’s no audible stopping of breath. That open, uninterrupted airflow is what defines a vowel, making it the best fit for the description. A consonant involves some obstruction or closure in the vocal tract, which can create stops or bursts of air—unlike the scenario described. A glottal stop is a specific type of consonant that actually involves a momentary stop of air at the glottis. A diphthong is still a vowel sound, but it’s a vowel that glides from one quality to another; it doesn’t introduce a breath stoppage either, so the broader category here is the most accurate answer.

Vowels are produced with an open vocal tract and continuous air flow, typically voiced, so there’s no audible stopping of breath. That open, uninterrupted airflow is what defines a vowel, making it the best fit for the description.

A consonant involves some obstruction or closure in the vocal tract, which can create stops or bursts of air—unlike the scenario described. A glottal stop is a specific type of consonant that actually involves a momentary stop of air at the glottis. A diphthong is still a vowel sound, but it’s a vowel that glides from one quality to another; it doesn’t introduce a breath stoppage either, so the broader category here is the most accurate answer.