Explanation
Glottalisation concerns laryngeal activity realised, depending on the description, as increased constriction, irregular vibration or glottal closure. The label therefore needs an explicit phonetic interpretation. In the context of debuccalisation, additional glottal activity must not automatically be taken to indicate the loss of an oral place of articulation. A sound may be glottally reinforced while retaining its oral gesture. Evidence must determine whether the relation is accompaniment, replacement or historical change.
Movement of thought
1. Describe the glottal realisation. 2. Examine oral articulation independently. 3. Separate temporal overlap from replacement. 4. Distinguish variation from historical change. 5. State the adopted sense of glottalisation.
Scientific use case
Acoustic and articulatory methods should identify the observation supporting each classification.
Example
In a hypothetical measurement series, an oral closure remains while glottal activity is added. This initially supports reinforcement rather than complete replacement.
Counterexample
A stretch of creaky voice does not by itself demonstrate loss of an oral consonantal place.
Distinction
Do not collapse glottal closure, creaky voice, glottal replacement and debuccalisation.
Effect on thought and perception
The concept exposes coordination between articulatory processes.
Resonance
A sound can be shaped in several places at once; an additional trace need not erase another.
Provenance
Parallel source review reconciled 2026-10-07; human specialist review not claimed.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Glottalisation“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G03-014. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G03-014The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.