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voice

n.

1. the sound produced by the larynx and modified by other elements of the vocal tract (e.g., lips, tongue) before it issues from the mouth.

2. in phonetics, the quality of a voiced, as opposed to an unvoiced, speech sound.

3. in linguistics, see active voice; passive voice.

4. the distinctive tone or quality of a person’s speaking or singing voice.

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Psychology term of the day

July 27th 2024

nativism

nativism

n.

1. the doctrine that the mind has certain innate structures and that experience plays a limited role in the creation of knowledge. See also innate ideas; nativistic theory. Compare constructivism; empiricism.

2. the doctrine that mental and behavioral traits are largely determined by hereditary, rather than environmental, factors. See nature–nurture.

3. the theory that individuals are born with all perceptual capabilities intact, although some capabilities may depend on the biological maturation of perceptual systems to reach adult levels. —nativist adj., n. —nativistic adj.