Nasalization is a phonetic process where a vowel or consonant sound is produced with airflow through the nose, resulting in a nasal quality. This occurs when the velum, a part of the soft palate, lowers to allow air to escape through the nasal cavity. In many languages, such as French and Portuguese, nasalized vowels are distinct phonemes that can change the meaning of words. In addition to languages, nasalization can also be observed in speech disorders, where individuals may have difficulty controlling airflow, leading to excessive nasal sounds. Understanding nasalization is important in fields like linguistics and speech therapy, as it helps in analyzing speech patterns and improving communication skills.