vocativevocative n
a noun phrase^1 which is an optional part of a sentence, and which names
or indicates one being addressed.
For example:
Really dear, do you think so?
That’s a pretty dress, Mrs Johnson.
voice^1 n
the ways in which a language expresses the relationship between a verb and
the noun phrases which are associated with it. Two sentences can differ
in voice and yet have the same basic meaning. However, there may be a
change in emphasis and one type of sentence may be more appropriate
(see appropriateness).
For example, in:
The wind damaged the fence.
the wind is the subject of the verb damaged, which is in the active voice,
while in:
The fence was damaged by the wind.
the fence is the subject of the verb was damaged, which is in the passive
voice.
The first sentence would be a suitable answer to the question:
Did the wind damage anything?
while the second sentence would be a suitable answer to the question:
How did the fence get damaged?
The so-called “agentless” passive, e.g.:
The fence has been damaged.
is used when the speaker or writer does not know or wish to state the cause,
or when the cause is too obvious to be stated.
voice^2 n
speech sounds which are produced with the vocal cords vibrating are
called “voiced”. Such vibration can be felt when touching the neck in the
region of the larynx.
For example, vowels are usually voiced, and, in English:
athe /d/ in /den/ den is a voiced stop
bthe /z/ in /ziºk/ zinc is a voiced fricative.
Speech sounds which are produced without vibration of the vocal cords are
called “voiceless”.
For example, in English:
athe /t/ in /tin/ tin is a voiceless stop
bthe /s/ in /sæd/ sad is a voiceless fricative.