Conversely, 'bat' begins with a voiced bilabial plosive, employing the same articulation but with vocal cord vibration.
To exemplify, consider how we distinguish between the words 'pat' and 'bat' in English. This differentiation hinges on the recognition of the initial consonant sound. In 'pat,' the sound is produced with the mouth's airflow entirely unobstructed, classified as a voiceless bilabial plosive because it's made with both lips (bilabial) and involves a complete stop and release of the airflow (plosive), without vocal cord vibration (voiceless). Conversely, 'bat' begins with a voiced bilabial plosive, employing the same articulation but with vocal cord vibration. This example underscores the role of phonetic nuances in determining meaning, illustrating the intricacy with which our brain processes language.