suction stop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Specialist
Quick answer
What does “suction stop” mean?
A type of consonant sound produced by creating a vacuum in the mouth and then releasing it with a distinctive click or pop.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of consonant sound produced by creating a vacuum in the mouth and then releasing it with a distinctive click or pop.
In phonetics, a stop consonant made with an ingressive airstream mechanism, where the primary airflow is inward into the mouth. Also refers to the physical mechanism or action of creating such a sound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is technical and standardized across linguistic literature.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no regional connotations.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, confined to academic texts on phonetics.
Grammar
How to Use “suction stop” in a Sentence
The linguist described [the suction stop].[A suction stop] is produced by [creating a vacuum].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “suction stop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The speaker can suction-stop with remarkable clarity.
- Languages like Xhosa suction-stop as part of their regular phonology.
American English
- The phonetician taught us how to suction-stop.
- Some languages suction-stop but English does not.
adjective
British English
- The suction-stop mechanism is complex.
- He studied suction-stop articulation.
American English
- The suction-stop sound was clearly recorded.
- She wrote a paper on suction-stop phonemes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in linguistics and phonetics to describe a specific airstream mechanism and class of consonants.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
The primary context. Refers to the phonetic articulation and classification of non-pulmonic consonants.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “suction stop”
- Using it to refer to any stop consonant.
- Confusing it with 'glottal stop'.
- Assuming it is a common word outside linguistics.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard phonetic terminology, 'suction stop' and 'click' are essentially synonyms, referring to consonants made with a velaric ingressive airstream.
No, English does not use suction stops (clicks) as phonemes. They only occur as paralinguistic sounds, like the 'tut-tut' or clicking to urge a horse.
A glottal stop is a pulmonic egressive stop made by closing the vocal folds. A suction stop is non-pulmonic and ingressive, made by creating a vacuum in the mouth. They are completely different airstream mechanisms.
It is called a 'stop' because the primary articulation involves a complete closure (stop) in the vocal tract. The 'suction' part describes the ingressive (air-sucking) release of that closure.
A type of consonant sound produced by creating a vacuum in the mouth and then releasing it with a distinctive click or pop.
Suction stop is usually technical/specialist in register.
Suction stop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsʌkʃən stɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌkʃən stɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine using a straw to drink: you create SUCTION, then STOP the flow with your tongue. A suction stop is a speech sound made with a similar mouth vacuum.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUNDS ARE ACTIONS (specifically, mechanical actions involving pressure and release).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the term 'suction stop'?