Online Encyclopedia
Vocalization
In animals, vocalization is a means of communication generated in many cases by their primitive versions of vocal chords.
In birds, it may be achieved by whistling but can communicate a number of things including danger.
It is also used to describe the noises made via the blowhole of mammalian sea creatures such as whales and porpoises.
In humans, it is a special means of communication called speech.
In languages with consonantal alphabets (sometimes inaccurately termed abjads), vocalization refers to the process of adding vowel markers (Arabic tashkil , Hebrew niqqud). See also: Arabic alphabet, Tiberian vocalization, Syriac alphabet.
Last updated: 02-22-2005 02:32:40