Sonority: meaning, definitions and examples
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sonority
[sษหnษหrษชti ]
Definition
linguistics
Sonority refers to the relative loudness or prominence of a speech sound in pronunciation. It is a key characteristic in the study of phonetics and phonology. The concept is used to classify sounds based on their acoustic properties and features, often ranking them from less to more sonorous. For example, vowels are generally more sonorous than consonants. Understanding sonority helps linguists analyze syllable structure and phonological phenomena.
Synonyms
audibility, loudness, resonance.
Examples of usage
- In English, vowels have higher sonority than most consonants.
- The sonority hierarchy is important in phonological rules.
- Sonority plays a role in determining syllable structure.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The term comes from the Latin word 'sonorus', which means 'sounding' or 'resounding'.
- It entered English in the late 19th century, linking the concept of sound quality to its usage in music and linguistics.
Linguistics
- In phonetics, sonority refers to how 'loud' or prominent a sound is in speech. Vowels are typically more sonorous than consonants.
- The sonority hierarchy ranks sounds from less sonorous (like voiceless stops) to more sonorous (like vowels), impacting syllable structure.
Music Theory
- In music, sonority describes the richness and character of a sound, often associated with the timbre of instruments.
- Composers strive for varied sonorities to create dynamic soundscapes, using different instruments and techniques.
Psychology of Sound
- Research shows that deeper sounds can evoke feelings of calmness and safety, while higher pitches often convey alertness.
- Sonorous sounds tend to have a direct impact on mood, influencing emotional and cognitive responses.
Pop Culture
- The sonorous voice of actors like Morgan Freeman is often admired in film and TV, making them iconic for narrative storytelling.
- In popular music, deep bass lines contribute to a sonorous quality that can enhance the listener's experience.
Translations
Translations of the word "sonority" in other languages:
๐ต๐น sonoridade
๐ฎ๐ณ เคงเฅเคตเคจเฅเคฏเคพเคคเฅเคฎเคเคคเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Sonoritรคt
๐ฎ๐ฉ sonoritas
๐บ๐ฆ ัะพะฝะพัะฝัััั
๐ต๐ฑ sonornoลฤ
๐ฏ๐ต ๅ ฑ้ณด
๐ซ๐ท sonoritรฉ
๐ช๐ธ sonoridad
๐น๐ท sesin kalitesi
๐ฐ๐ท ์ํฅ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุตูุชูุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ sonorita
๐ธ๐ฐ sonorita
๐จ๐ณ ้ณๅๆง
๐ธ๐ฎ sonornost
๐ฎ๐ธ hljรณรฐgรฆรฐi
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะฐัาัะฝะดัา
๐ฌ๐ช แกแแแแ แแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ sษs keyfiyyษti
๐ฒ๐ฝ sonoridad