From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Vocalism \Vo"cal*ism\ (v[=o]"kal*[i^]z'm), n. 1. The exercise of the vocal organs; vocalization. [1913 Webster] 2. A vocalic sound. [R.] [1913 Webster]From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
vocalism n 1: the system of vowels used in a particular language [syn: vowel system, vocalism] 2: the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract; "a singer takes good care of his voice"; "the giraffe cannot make any vocalizations" [syn: voice, vocalization, vocalisation, vocalism, phonation, vox]