What describes a sound that must be clipped off during production?

A stop consonant sound is characterized by a complete blockage of the airflow followed by a release, which is needed to produce the sound. This means that during its articulation, the speaker stops the airflow momentarily, creating a phonemic sound that cannot be sustained. Sounds like /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/ fall into this category. They are "clipped" because the airflow is completely interrupted and then released, resulting in a sharp, distinct sound that does not continue without interruption.

In contrast, continuant sounds allow airflow to continue smoothly through the vocal tract, making them capable of being sustained. Nasal sounds involve airflow through the nasal cavity alongside producing consonants. Fricatives create narrow constrictions in the vocal tract that lead to turbulent airflow, resulting in a continuous sound. These other categories of sounds do not involve the same abrupt halting of airflow, distinguishing them significantly from stop consonants.