Question

In reading about the ghunnah and where the sound comes from I was wondering: is there any difference between one ghunnah and another other than the length of the timing?

Answer

The ghunnah is considered part of the articulation of the two letters,  and  and is emitted from the nasal passage.  It is impossible to say the two letters  and  correctly without the inherent ghunnah (nasalization). 

There is a difference in the amount of ghunnah used between the idghaam of the  saakinah and tanween with the  , and  and the ikhfa’.  In the incomplete idghaam (merging) of the  saakinah and tanween with the  and  , there is 50% ghunnah and 50% letter.  This means the letter  or  shouldn’t overpower the sound of the ghunnah and the sound of the ghunnah shouldn’t overpower the letter.  This takes practice to accomplish, but it isn’t too difficult.

In the ikhfa’ of the  saakinah, there is a 75% ghunnah and the rest of the sound (25%) comes from the tongue getting close to, but not relying on the articulation point of the next letter (the letter causing the ikhfa’).   The ikhfa’ has levels.  Whenever the letter after the  saakinah is close in articulation point to the  itself, the ikhfa’ is closer to an idghaam, such as the case when there is an ikhfa’ with the letters  or .  On the other hand, whenever the letter that is causing the ikhfa’ is distant from the  in articulation, the ikhfa’ is closer to an ith-haar, such as with the  and .

And Allah knows best.