EJECTIVE Meaning and
Definition
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An ejective is a type of consonant in phonetics that is produced by a strong glottal stop followed by a sudden release of air. It is a speech sound characterized by a forceful "expulsion" or "ejection" of air from the vocal tract.
When producing an ejective sound, the airstream is created by completely closing the vocal folds, resulting in a build-up of air pressure beneath them. The closure is then released, causing a strong burst of air to be expelled from the mouth. This release of air is accompanied by a distinctive popping or clicking sound, which gives ejectives their characteristic sound.
Ejectives are found in various languages around the world, including several indigenous languages of North and South America, Africa, and the Caucasus region. They are usually represented by specific symbols or letters in phonetic alphabets.
Ejectives are known for their breathy, percussive quality and are often described as "sharp" or "explosive" sounds. They are contrasted with other types of consonants, such as voiced or voiceless stops, which are produced by the vocal folds themselves. Ejectives can also co-occur with other articulatory features, such as aspiration or glottalization, leading to additional distinctions in certain languages.
Common Misspellings for EJECTIVE
- wjective
- sjective
- djective
- rjective
- 4jective
- 3jective
- ehective
- enective
- emective
- ekective
- eiective
- euective
- ejwctive
- ejsctive
- ejdctive
- ejrctive
- ej4ctive
- ej3ctive
- ejextive
- ejevtive
Etymology of EJECTIVE
The word "ejective" comes from the Latin verb "eicere", which means "to throw out" or "to expel". It is derived from the prefix "e-" meaning "out" and the verb "iacere" meaning "to throw". The term "ejective" refers to a type of consonant sound produced by creating a gap in the oral cavity and then releasing a burst of air built up in the mouth.
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