The etymology of the word vowel refers us to the Latin language, more precisely to the word vocalis. It is a term that, in our language, can be used as a noun and as an adjective.
If we focus on its use as a noun, we can say that a vowel is a type of letter that is pronounced with the cavities above the glottis open. This means that the mouth, nostrils, pharynx, and larynx, which form what is known as the vocal tract, remain open. In this way, it is possible to differentiate between vowels and consonants, whose expression requires the closure or obstruction of some part of the vocal tract. In our alphabet, the vowels are the following letters: A – E – I – O – U. The rest of the letters are consonants.
It is important to point out that the vowels constitute the syllabic nucleus (the sector of the syllable that has the greatest sound intensity). Consonants, on the other hand, form the syllable attack and the coda. Consider the case of a single word: “cat”. This term has four letters: two vowels (A and O) and two consonants (G and T). The vowel is a noun that refers to the individual who, in a certain association or organization, has a voice or a vote. A person can become a member of an entity if they are nominated by some authority or voted for by people who have the right to elect. As an adjective, the vowel is linked to that related to the voice (the sound that is generated when the air vibrates the vocal cords). In this sense, one can speak of vocal training, to refer to the study of a certain technique to make use of the voice, whether to speak or sing, projecting it in the most efficient way possible. Broadcasters, theater actors and opera singers are some of the most common people who attend vocal training courses to successfully practice their professions. The voice is one of the most unstable and difficult aspects of our body to master, even for the most experienced and knowledgeable, since it is among the first points to be affected by stress, anguish and changes in temperature, common phenomena . The great opera singers are often held up as examples when it comes to vocal training, as learning the technique of lyrical singing opens the door to a series of demonstrations of skill and agility impossible for most people. But the instability mentioned in the previous paragraph is an obstacle that they must also learn to live with, and to fully exploit their talents, they must always be prepared.
Vocal health, in this context, is the fundamental point that the professional’s voice must work on. First of all, it is necessary to completely reject tobacco, both actively and passively: smoking or being near a smoker is harmful to anyone, but especially to those who use their voice as a work tool. Although not smoking can be difficult for those who picked up the habit before starting vocal training, it is true that many people are never attracted to smoking, especially those who have felt a vocation related to the voice since childhood. Another important piece of advice to maintain the health of the vocal cords is to avoid shouting at all costs: if we are very angry, it is preferable to hit the wall; If we want to call someone away, let’s run away.
