Organs of speech

1. Voice production:
When air is pushed out of the lungs through the larynx and epiglottis, the
vocal cords vibrate, producing a continuous tone whose pitch can be
changed by varying the shape of the larynx. Therefore, we can conclude that
voice production occurs in the larynx.
Consonants (which are modified by the tongue and lips), for example, are
formed when air is emitted suddenly or when it is cut off firmly.
During breathing the vocal cords are held apart, but as speech commences,
the cartilages of the larynx are drawn together by the action of muscles and
a small opening is created.
The tension of the vibrating cords, changed by the tilting of the cartilages,
alters the pitch of the spoken sound. High notes are produced by the
vibration of tight vocal cords and low notes are produced by vibrating loose
cords.

2. A tube above the larynx.
Divided in two at the top:
- The back of the mouth
- The beginning of the
way through the nasal
cavity (above the
mouth, behind the nose.

3. Often in speech, the velum
is raised so that air cannot
escape through the nose.
When the /k/ and the /g/
(velar consonants) sound
is produced, the tongue is
in contact with the lower
side of the velum.

4. Also known as the “roof
of the mouth”.
The interaction between
the tongue and the hard
palate is essential in the
formation of /t/, /d/, and /j/
sounds.

5. It is located between the
top front teeth and the
hard palate.
It’s surface is covered
with little ridge.
The sound produced is
called “alveolar”

6. When pressed together,
the sound is called
“bilabial” (/p/, /b/)
When brought into
contact with teeth, the
sound is called
“labiodental” (/f/, /v/)
They can also produce
rounded sounds (/u/)

7. The vibration of the larynx
can be detected while
producing the sound /z/.

9. Jaws are articulators
because of their
movement.
Jaws don’t make contact
with any other
articulators.
We can find the teeth
attached to the jaws.