Here's a breakdown:
* Sibilant: A sound characterized by a hissing quality.
* Siblience: The quality of being sibilant or the occurrence of sibilant sounds.
Examples of sibilant sounds:
* S as in "snake"
* Sh as in "ship"
* Ch as in "chair"
* Z as in "zoo"
* Th as in "thin"
Siblience can be found in various contexts:
* Speech: Excessive sibilance can be a speech impediment.
* Music: Composers sometimes use sibilant sounds for dramatic effect.
* Nature: The sound of wind whistling through trees or leaves can be considered sibilant.
Related terms:
* Sibilant consonant: A consonant sound produced by forcing air through a narrow channel in the mouth, resulting in a hissing sound.
* Sibilance meter: A tool used to measure the amount of sibilance in a recording or text.