Final answer:
The question pertains to hypernasality, a condition where excessive nasal cavity resonance alters the sound of speech, making it sound overly nasal. It is often due to an obstruction or swelling in the nasal passageways and can lead to differences in voice quality and physical discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question refers to hypernasality, which occurs when an excessive amount of nasal cavity resonance affects the sound of normally nonnasal vowels and voiced consonants. During phonation, this condition results in speech that may sound abnormally nasal. The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space in the skull, acting as a passageway for air to flow in and out of the body as part of the upper respiratory tract. The cavity, along with nasal conchae, the paranasal sinuses, throat, and mouth, contributes to the resonance and quality of our voice.
When the normal airflow between these cavities is disrupted, such as during sinus congestion, a cold, or due to anatomical irregularities, the voice may sound different. For example, swollen nasal mucosa and excess mucus can obstruct the passages between the sinuses and the nasal cavity, leading to hypernasality. Alongside the changes in the quality of speech, this can also cause discomfort and pressure from fluid buildup in the sinuses.