Velopharyngeal opening in the formation of voiced stops in Sindhi

It was proprioceptively felt that voiced and aspirated voiced stops in Sindhi are characterized by a slight nasalization. Nasal airflow during the production of voiced stops was therefore measured with a Froikaer-Jensen Electro-Aerometer. Results suggest that there is an imcomplete velopharyngeal closure which helps to absorb the transglottal airflow and thus prevents the rise in the supraglottal pressure. For the affricated palatal stops of Sindhi, the vocal fold vibrations were, however, maintained by expanding the walls of the supraglottal cavities.