What type of sounds are referred to as sibilant sounds?

Sibilant sounds are characterized by their hissing quality, which is produced by forcing air through a narrow passage in the vocal tract. These sounds include phonemes such as 's', 'sh', 'ch', and sometimes 'z'. They are particularly important in language because they can significantly affect the meaning of words due to their distinctive auditory quality.

These sounds often occur in languages in a manner that can alter not just the meaning but also the tone and rhythm of speech. While the other choices describe various types of sounds, they do not capture the specific hissing characteristic that defines sibilant sounds. This unique trait makes sibilant sounds a crucial area of focus in phonetics and language education, especially in multi-sensory structured language approaches that aim to enhance auditory discrimination and overall literacy skills.