English pluralization displays sensitivity to the voicing of the final consonant of the singular noun. What does the difference between a voiced and an unvoiced consonant consist in?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

In this question, we’re examining what distinguishes the voiced from the unvoiced final consonant in English plural formation.
Option: 'Whether the vocal cords vibrate when it is being produced.' This correctly captures the core distinction: voicing refers to the vibration of the vocal cords during articulation. When the final consonant is voiced (as in the plural ending after a noun ending in a voiced consonant like /g/ or /z/), the sound involves vocal cord vibration; when it is unvoiced (as in /s/ after a voiceless final sound like /t/ or /k/), the vocal cords do not vibrate. This difference is precisely what triggers the allophonic variation in the plural suffix, producing [s], [z], or [ɪz] depending on the preceding sound.
Other potential frames one might consider would need to address advantages like airflow, place or manner of articulation, or phonation type. However, those facets do not capture the essential binary distinction used to explain the voiced vs. voiceless conclusion that governs the plural suffix’s realization.
If a choice suggested something like 'the position of the tongue' or 'air pressure alone' without reference to vocal cord vibration, that would miss the primary phonetic criterion that separates voiced from voiceless consonants in English phonology.
Thus, the most accurate descriptor among the presented ideas is the one that centers on vocal fold vibration during production, which directly informs whether the plural suffix is pronounced as [s] or [z] (or an intermediate [ɪz]).

CGS001/PHI010 FQ 2025 Reading Response Quiz 3

English pluralization displays sensitivity to the voicing of the final consonant of the singular noun. What does the difference between a voiced and an unvoiced consonant consist in?

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