What is a distinguishing feature of hyponasality?

Hyponasality is characterized by insufficient nasal resonance during speech. This condition occurs when there is an inadequate flow of air through the nasal passages while producing certain speech sounds, typically those that are supposed to have nasal resonance, like /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/. When a person has hyponasality, they may sound as if they are speaking through a blocked nose, resulting in a dull tone and lack of the characteristic nasal quality expected in those sounds.

In contrast, excessive nasal resonance would indicate a different condition known as hypernasality, where too much air flows through the nasal cavities during speech, creating an overly nasal quality. Normal nasal resonance implies that the airflow is properly balanced and creates the intended sound quality without contributing excessively to or detracting from speech clarity. Occluded nasal passages can lead to hyponasality but describe a physical state rather than a speech quality feature. Therefore, the defining aspect of hyponasality is specifically related to the insufficient nasal resonance present in the speech.