Gagging is the triggering of one's gag reflex, resulting in an involuntary muscular contraction in the throat. The gag reflex is triggered by a foreign object touching the roof of the mouth. The contraction is characterized by the sudden urge to expel anything inside the character's mouth. A character may induce vomiting by triggering the gag reflex.

A gagging character will probably make all sorts of noises before, and after obstructions are removed. It is not uncommon for a gagging character to have their airflow obstructed, resulting in a gasp for air once the obstruction is removed.

Sound effect tagging

Noises associated with gagging may sometimes include swallowing sounds as well as a couple sounds exclusive to gagging including, but not limited to the onomatopoeia "gag". Be careful when applying the sound effects tag, as muffled speech, including vocalized sounds are common with gagged characters, do not get tagged as sound_effects.

How to tell the difference?

Muffled, or vocalized speech usually will start with an "M", or "N". Sound effects will rarely start with these letters. "H" is probably a vocalization, and if it isn't, it is probably a variation of "Hurk". Several swallowing sound effects start with "G" such as "Gluck", "Glurk", and "Gulp". "Gah", and "Gack" are vocalizations, not sound effects.

Not to be confused with

• choking - The act of strangling a character with one's hands. Gagging should be used if a character is choking on something specific.

Related tags

• deep_throat
• swallowing