Final answer:
Nasal consonants can exhibit hypo nasality or hyper nasality. Hypo nasality is characterized by a lack of resonance in the nasal cavity, while hyper nasality is marked by excessive resonance. Conditions like cleft palate can lead to hypernasality.
Step-by-step explanation:
When producing a nasal consonant, such as /m/ or /n/, the sound is resonated in the nasal cavity. Hypo nasality occurs when there is a lack of resonance in the nasal cavity, resulting in a muffled or dull sound. On the other hand, hyper nasality occurs when there is excessive resonance in the nasal cavity, leading to a nasal-sounding voice. For example, in cases of cleft palate, where there is an opening between the oral and nasal cavities, hypernasality can be observed.