Glottalization is a phonetic phenomenon where a glottal stop, produced by briefly closing the vocal cords, replaces or accompanies another sound in speech. This can occur in various languages and dialects, often affecting consonants like t or k. For example, in some English dialects, the word "butter" may be pronounced with a glottal stop, sounding more like "bu'er." This feature is particularly prominent in certain regional accents, such as those found in London or New York City. Glottalization can influence the way words are perceived and understood, contributing to the distinctiveness of a speaker's accent or dialect.