Sonority: meaning, definitions and examples

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sonority

 

[sษ™หˆnษ”หrษชti ]

Definition

Context #1 | Noun

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:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sonoridade

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคงเฅเคตเคจเฅเคฏเคพเคคเฅเคฎเค•เคคเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Sonoritรคt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ sonoritas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะพะฝะพั€ะฝั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ sonornoล›ฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ…ฑ้ณด

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท sonoritรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sonoridad

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท sesin kalitesi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์Œํ–ฅ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุตูˆุชูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sonorita

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ sonorita

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้Ÿณๅ“ๆ€ง

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ sonornost

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ hljรณรฐgรฆรฐi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐั€า›ั‹ะฝะดั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒกแƒแƒœแƒแƒ แƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sษ™s keyfiyyษ™ti

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sonoridad

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,865, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.