The vibration of vocal folds falls under which category of sound production?

The vibration of vocal folds is categorized under vibration, as it specifically refers to the physical movement of the vocal cords as air passes through them. When air is expelled from the lungs, it causes the vocal folds to open and close rapidly, creating sound waves. This process is fundamental to voice production and highlights the mechanism by which the voice is generated.

In contrast, resonance pertains to how the sound waves interact with different cavities within the vocal tract, enhancing or altering the sound's quality. Airflow involves the mechanics of air movement necessary to produce sound but does not directly refer to the action of the vocal folds. A resonator describes the structures that amplify and modify the sound produced by the vocal folds, such as the throat, mouth, and nasal passages, but it does not encompass the act of vibration itself. Thus, vibration is the most accurate descriptor for the activity of the vocal folds during sound production.