In phonetics, the term "voicing" relates to which characteristic?

The term "voicing" in phonetics specifically refers to whether the vocal cords vibrate during the production of a consonant sound. When the vocal cords are together and vibrate, the sound is considered voiced. An example of a voiced sound is /b/, where the vocal cords oscillate as the sound is produced. Conversely, if the vocal cords are apart and do not vibrate, the sound is voiceless, like in the case of /p/. Understanding this characteristic is essential for distinguishing between different types of consonants, which impacts pronunciation and phonetic transcription. This distinction is fundamental in phonetics because it influences how sounds are perceived and categorized across languages.