The production of speech involves three main stages: 1) Respiration, where air is taken in and exhaled;
2) Phonation, where the vocal cords vibrate to produce sound; and 3) Articulation, where speech sounds
are formed by the tongue, lips, and other speech organs.
Respiration:
Process:
The first stage involves breathing. During inhalation, air is taken in through the nose or mouth, and
during exhalation, air is expelled.
Importance:
Adequate breath support is essential for sustained speech and proper delivery of sounds.
Phonation:
Process:
Within the larynx (voice box), the vocal cords come together, creating vibrations as air from the lungs
passes through. This vibration produces the basic sound source for speech.
Importance:
The pitch, volume, and quality of the voice are influenced by the control of the vocal cords.
Articulation:
Process:
This stage involves shaping the sounds produced by the vocal cords into recognizable speech sounds
using the tongue, lips, teeth, and other speech organs.
Importance:
Articulation allows for the formation of distinct sounds and, when combined, results in the production of
words and sentences.
These stages work together seamlessly to produce intelligible and expressive speech.
Manner of Articulation:
Definition: It refers to how the airflow is obstructed or modified to produce speech sounds.