Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics
phonation [Grk 
‘sound; voice’]
One of four processes involved in the formation of speech sounds that refers to the different positions of the vocal cords and glottis. Five different positions play a role in phonation: (a) the glottis is open in voicelessness (
voiced vs voiceless); (b) the vocal cords form a crevasse and vibrate with normal voicing; (c) when whispering quietly, the vocal cords are tightly constricted in the front and form a crevasse in the back; with laryngeal sounds there is added vibration; (d) in murmuring, the vocal cords are not constricted and they vibrate; and, as in loud whispering, they form a triangle; (e) if the glottis is closed, there is no phonation.
A glottal stop is achieved by closing and reopening the glottis. Different pitches are produced by vibrating the vocal cords. Some think that accent ( stress2) is brought about by varying the pressure of the pulmonic air; differences in quality are caused by varying the duration of the sound formation ( intonation, quantity).
References
phonetics
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