What describes sounds that can be held for several seconds without distortion?

Continuous sounds are characterized by their ability to be sustained or held for longer durations without distortion. This quality makes them distinct from other types of sounds, which may break or change in quality when extended. For example, when you produce a continuous sound, like a prolonged "s," you can hold it for several seconds without losing clarity or introducing distortion.

In contrast, phonemic sounds refer to the smallest units of sound in a language that can change meanings, but they may not necessarily be continuous. Vocalic sounds are a subset of phonemes that include vowel sounds, which can be continuous, but not all phonemic or vocalic sounds have the same ability to be held without distortion. Static sounds, on the other hand, do not imply sustained quality; they are typically characterized by a fixed state or position, which does not align with the idea of being held continuously.

In summary, continuous sounds are specifically able to be maintained over time while remaining clear and unaltered, defining their importance in the context of sound characteristics.