In phonetics 'voiced' is a property that certain language sounds
(phonemes) may have. It simply means that the vocal folds are
vibrating while the sound is produced. You can experience the
vibration of your vocal folds simply by saying any vowel, and
putting your hand on your throat. You should feel a slight
vibration.  Phonemes that are not voiced may be called either
unvoiced or voiceless, referring to the fact that the vocal
folds are not vibrating -- they are wide open, letting air pass
freely. Unvoiced phonemes still make sounds because we shape the
air movement with the articulators: the tongue, lips, teeth,
alveolar plate, hard palate, velum (the soft palate), and the
glottis. Confusingly, the vibration of the vocal folds is called
phonation; of course, phonemes produced without phonation are
still phonemes.  Voiced and unvoiced phonemes usually come in
pairs; /b/ and /p/ is an example of an voiced/unvoiced pair. As
you can see, voicing makes a big difference; the American Idol
judges can call contesta