Which statement best describes unvoiced sounds?

• A. Sounds produced without vibration of the vocal cords
• B. Sounds produced with vibration of the vocal cords
• C. Sounds produced with lip rounding
• D. Sounds produced with voice pitch change

Answer: (A)

Unvoiced sounds are produced without the vocal cords vibrating. When you make these sounds, air flows through the vocal tract without causing the cords in the larynx to buzz. You can feel or hear the difference by placing a hand on your throat and saying a pair like “p” and “b”—the p is unvoiced, with little or no vibration, while the b has clear vocal cord vibration. In English, many consonants are unvoiced, including p, t, k, f, s, and sh, whereas others like b, d, g, v, z involve vocal cord vibration. This defining trait—no vocal cord vibration—is what sets unvoiced sounds apart.