We need to talk about what we call, voiced and voiceless English Sounds. This is most likely a new term for you so let me explain what I mean.
Go ahead and touch your throat like this and say these sounds: /b, d, g/
Do you feel the vibration in your throat? ____________
That vibration is caused by the vocal chords in your throat moving or vibrating so you feel that vibration on your hand.
These are called voiced sounds because your voice is on. So when you feel that vibration, it means it’s a voiced sound.
Now touch your throat again and say these sounds: /p, t, k/
Do you feel the vibration in your throat? No, it’s not there anymore.
These are quiet sounds or voiceless sounds.
These sounds don’t vibrate your throat because your vocal chords are open and loose so the air flows through your throat freely.
These are called voiceless sounds because your voice is off. So when you don’t feel the vibration, you are saying a voiceless sound.
All English sounds are either a voiced or a voiceless sounds. Either your voice is on (“uh”) or it’s off (/h/).
