The human voice is typically produced by a complex process involving the lungs, the larynx, and the vocal tract, but a whisper fundamentally changes this mechanism. Voiced speech requires the rapid opening and closing of the vocal cords to create a periodic, vibrating sound. The question of whether a person can whisper without those structures is intriguing because it questions the source of the sound itself. Understanding how air is shaped into sound determines if the breathy quality of a whisper depends entirely on the vocal cords or if other parts of the vocal apparatus can take over.
The Mechanics of a Standard Whisper
Normal speech relies on phonation, the process where air from the lungs causes the vocal folds—commonly called vocal cords—to vibrate hundreds of times per second. This vibration creates the fundamental tone that is then amplified and shaped into recognizable words by the throat, mouth, and nasal passages. Whispering, however, is an unvoiced mode of communication that intentionally bypasses this primary sound source.
During a whisper, the vocal cords are held in a partially open, abducted position rather than being drawn together to vibrate. The muscular actions controlled by the arytenoid cartilages keep the vocal folds separated, preventing them from oscillating as a unit. This creates a narrow, triangular opening, often referred to as the glottal chink, through which the exhaled air must pass.
The characteristic sound of a whisper is not a tone but a form of acoustic energy generated by air turbulence. As air is forced at high velocity through the small, constricted glottal opening, it creates friction. This turbulent airflow, known as glottal friction, produces a broad-band noise—the high-frequency, hissing sound that defines the whisper. Because the vocal folds are not vibrating, a whisper lacks the harmonic structure and loudness of voiced speech.
The rest of the vocal tract, including the tongue, teeth, and lips, continues to articulate and shape this turbulent noise into vowels and consonants. The supralaryngeal articulation remains essentially the same as in normal speech, allowing listeners to perceive the words. The sound source shifts from the periodic vibration of the vocal folds to the aperiodic friction noise created by the air rushing through the narrow opening.
The Answer: Producing Sound Without Vocal Fold Vibration
The answer to the central question is yes; a whisper-like sound can be produced even if the vocal cords are absent or non-functional. This is possible because the fundamental acoustic source of a whisper is turbulence, not vibration. Since the sound is generated by air friction, the essential quality of a whisper depends more on the manipulation of airflow than on the presence of the vocal cords themselves.
For an individual who has undergone a total laryngectomy, which involves the surgical removal of the larynx and vocal cords, the primary sound source is gone. However, the structures above the larynx—the pharynx, tongue, and mouth—remain intact and functional. These supraglottal structures are still capable of shaping air that passes through them into recognizable speech sounds.
Certain unvoiced consonants in normal speech, such as the “s” sound in “see” or the “f” sound in “feel,” are examples of fricatives. These sounds are produced by creating a narrow constriction elsewhere in the vocal tract, such as between the tongue and the hard palate, to generate friction and turbulence. An individual without vocal cords can still perform these movements to create a similar, breathy, fricative-based sound.
The air control mechanism is significantly altered, making the sound quality different from a standard whisper. A normal whisper uses the partially adducted vocal folds as a precisely adjustable air valve to create the turbulent noise. Without this valve, controlling the necessary high-velocity airflow for a consistent whisper is challenging. The resulting sound is a highly breathy, unvoiced articulation, relying entirely on the turbulence generated by the tongue, lips, and other remaining structures to form words.
Alternative Methods for Non-Laryngeal Communication
While a whisper-like sound is acoustically possible without vocal cords, it is not a practical or loud enough method for daily communication after a total laryngectomy. Individuals in this situation must rely on alternative methods to produce a functional voice. These methods all focus on introducing a new source of vibration or sound to replace the lost laryngeal function.
Tracheoesophageal Puncture (TEP) Speech
One of the most common and effective methods is Tracheoesophageal Puncture (TEP) speech. This method uses a small prosthetic valve inserted between the trachea and the esophagus. The valve redirects air from the lungs into the esophagus, causing the tissue at the top of the esophagus (the pharyngoesophageal segment) to vibrate and create a new sound source.
Electrolarynx
Another option is the Electrolarynx, a battery-operated device held against the neck or cheek. This external device produces a continuous mechanical vibration that is transmitted into the mouth and throat. The user then moves their tongue and lips to shape this vibration into speech, resulting in a clear but distinctively mechanical voice.
Esophageal Speech
Esophageal speech is a non-surgical technique where the individual learns to inject air into the upper esophagus and then release it in a controlled burp. The vibration of the pharyngoesophageal segment as the air is expelled creates the sound, which the person then shapes into speech. This method is difficult to master, but it is entirely hands-free and does not require a device.