Plosive Sounds

Physiology, Otorhinolaryngology

Also known as: Occlusive sounds, Stops

Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.

This article defines plosive sounds as consonants produced by the sudden release of air from the vocal tract. It distinguishes between voiced plosives, such as 'b' and 'd', and voiceless plosives, such as 'p', 't', and 'k'.

Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)

PLOSIVE SOUNDS, or occlusive sounds, correspond to the consonants b, d, p, t, k; those among them (b, d), during the formation of which air escapes while sounding from the anterior or posterior palate upon the sudden rupture of closed lips, are called voiced plosive sounds; p, t, and k are pronounced voicelessly.

Cite this page

“Plosive Sounds.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/plosive-sounds/