unvoice
C2Technical/Linguistic
Definition
Meaning
to make a voiced consonant voiceless; to devoice.
to deprive of voice or voicing; to remove the vocal quality from a sound. It can also metaphorically mean to deprive someone of a voice or the power to speak.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical term in phonetics/phonology. The opposite of 'voice'. Its metaphorical use (to silence) is extremely rare and poetic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties. No cultural connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used almost exclusively in linguistic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[phoneme/word] unvoices [in a certain environment][environment] causes [phoneme] to unvoice[speaker] unvoices [the final consonant]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in linguistics and phonetics papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Describes a phonological process.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- In some dialects, speakers unvoice the final 'g' in '-ing' endings.
- The phonological rule states that the consonant must unvoice before a voiceless plosive.
American English
- In casual speech, Americans often unvoice the 'z' sound in 'is' to an 's'.
- The textbook explains how to unvoice a bilabial nasal.
adverb
British English
- [This form is not standard. Use 'without voicing' or similar.]
American English
- [This form is not standard. Use 'without voicing' or similar.]
adjective
British English
- The unvoiced allophone is more common in that context.
- She studied the unvoiced variant of the fricative.
American English
- He produced an unvoiced alveolar stop.
- The chart listed both voiced and unvoiced consonants.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Not applicable for A2 level]
- [Not applicable for B1 level]
- Linguists note that some languages unvoice consonants at the end of words.
- The 's' in 'cats' is unvoiced, unlike the 'z' sound in 'dogs'.
- The process to unvoice final obstruents is common in German, a phenomenon known as 'final devoicing'.
- Child language acquisition studies show learners may initially unvoice consonants they later learn to voice correctly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'UNVOICE' = take the VOICE out. The 'un-' prefix means to reverse the action, like 'unlock' or 'untie'.
Conceptual Metaphor
VOICE IS PRESENCE/SOUND; therefore, UNVOICING IS MAKING ABSENT/SILENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'to silence' (заставить молчать). The Russian term is 'оглушать' (to devoice/deafen) in phonetics.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a general synonym for 'silence' or 'mute'.
- Confusing it with 'unvoiced' as an adjective (which is correct).
- Misspelling as 'unvoise'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'unvoice'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized term used almost exclusively in phonetics and linguistics.
They are synonyms in phonetics. 'Devoice' is slightly more common in technical literature.
This is a very rare, poetic, or metaphorical extension. In standard usage, it refers only to speech sounds.
The direct opposite is the verb 'voice', meaning to produce a sound with vibration of the vocal cords.