Phonetics and Phonology
Chapter 2: Articulatory Phonetics _Speech Production
Mechanism_ Places of Articulation_ Manners of Articulation
Study Materials: Comprehensive Notes, Summaries, Key
Terms for Exam Success, Admission Tests, and Interviews
by Syeda Sumaira Tabassum
(The Ultimate Success Notes: Your shortcut to exam, admission test, and interview success.
Includes focused study guides, quick summaries, and must-know key terms)
Phonetics and Phonology—Chapter 2_Articulatory Phonetics Speech Production Mechanism
Places of Articulation Manners of Articulation
Lesson 1: The Speech Production
Mechanism
Introduction
Speech is a complex and highly coordinated human activity that allows us to communicate
thoughts, emotions, and intentions. It involves multiple systems working in harmony—anatomical
structures, physiological processes, and neurological controls. This comprehensive lesson
explores the entire speech production mechanism, detailing each component, their functions, and
how they work together to produce speech. By the end of this lesson, students will have a clear
understanding of how speech is generated, the intricate coordination involved, and the
significance of various speech mechanisms in communication.
1. Overview of Speech Production
Speech production refers to the process of transforming thoughts into spoken words. It involves
three fundamental stages:
Conceptualization: Formulating the idea or message.
Formulation: Translating the idea into linguistic form (words and sentences).
Articulation: Physically producing sounds to express the message.
,This lesson emphasizes the second and third stages—formulation and articulation, which involve
intricate physiological and neurological processes.
2. The Anatomical Foundations of Speech Production
2.1. The Respiratory System
Primary Role: Provides the airflow necessary for speech.
Lungs: The main air reservoir, enabling us to generate airflow.
Diaphragm: A dome-shaped muscle beneath the lungs, crucial for inhalation.
Intercostal Muscles: Located between ribs, they assist in expanding and compressing the
thoracic cavity.
Larynx: The voice box, located at the top of the trachea; produces voiced sounds.
Trachea: The windpipe conducting airflow from the lungs to the larynx.
Function in Speech:
The respiratory system creates an airstream, which is modulated to produce different speech
sounds. The process begins with inhalation, filling the lungs with air, followed by controlled
exhalation that supplies airflow through the larynx and articulatory system.
2.2. The Larynx and Phonation
Primary Role: Sound source through voice production.
Vocal Folds (Vocal Cords): Folds of tissue within the larynx that vibrate to produce sound.
Glottis: The opening between the vocal cords that can open and close.
Vocal Fold Vibration: When air passes through the glottis, vocal cords vibrate, generating
voiced sounds.
Mechanism:
The vibration depends on subglottic pressure (air pressure below the vocal folds) and the precise
control of the vocal cords' tension and length.
2.3. The Articulatory System
Primary Role: Shaping sound into recognizable speech sounds.
Oral Cavity: Includes the tongue, teeth, palate, and lips.
Nasal Cavity: Contributes especially to nasal sounds like /m/, /n/, /ŋ/.
Articulators:
Tongue: Most active articulator, shaping sounds significantly.
Lips: Labial sounds (/p/, /b/, /m/).
Teeth: For dental sounds (/θ/, /ð/).
Hard Palate and Soft Palate (Velum): For consonants and nasal sounds.
Velopharyngeal Port: Controls nasal vs. oral resonance.
,Function:
The articulatory system modifies the raw sound generated by the larynx and respiratory system
into specific speech sounds via movements and positioning of articulators.
2.4. The Nervous System
Primary Role: Controls and integrates all speech components.
Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves that transmit signals to/from the brain.
Cerebral Cortex: Especially Broca’s area (speech production) and the motor cortex.
Subcortical Structures: Basal ganglia, cerebellum.
Nerves Involved:
Vagus nerve (CN X): Controls laryngeal muscles.
Facial nerve (CN VII): Controls lips.
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII): Controls tongue movements.
Trigeminal nerve (CN V): Controls jaw movements.
Function:
The nervous system orchestrates muscle movements, timing, and coordination necessary for
speech production, from breath control to articulation.
3. The Physiological Process of Speech Production
3.1. Initiation: Breath Control and Subglottic Pressure
Speech begins with controlled inhalation followed by exhalation, which provides the airflow
needed for phonation.
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract to inhale.
During speech, exhalation is controlled by the abdominal muscles to maintain consistent
subglottic pressure.
Sufficient pressure is essential for phonation, especially for sustained sounds and loudness.
3.2. Phonation: Producing Voice
Air expelled from the lungs passes through the glottis, where the vocal folds vibrate.
Vocal fold vibration produces a raw sound wave, the fundamental frequency—or pitch.
Adjustments in tension, mass, and length of the vocal cords allow for pitch modulation.
Lateral and medial compression of the vocal folds changes loudness.
3.3. Resonance and Filtering
The raw sound generated by the vocal cords is filtered and shaped by the resonating cavities:
, Oral cavity: Modifies sound for vowels and many consonants.
Nasal cavity: Adds nasal resonance during specific sounds.
Pharyngeal cavity: Acts as a resonator that influences voice quality.
Resonance adds richness and timbre to the voice, differentiating speech sounds.
3.4. Articulation: Shaping Speech Sounds
Articulatory movements modify the resonance to produce specific phonemes.
The tongue’s position creates vowels and some consonants.
Lips form labial sounds.
Teeth and tongue shape alveolar sounds.
The soft palate raises or lowers to switch between oral and nasal sounds.
Coordination: The precise timing and movement of articulators are vital for clear speech.
3.5. Suprasegmental Features: Prosody, Intonation, and
Stress
Beyond individual sounds, speech involves stress, pitch, rhythm, and intonation, which convey
meaning and emotional tone.
Prosody: The melody and rhythm of speech.
Intonation: Variations in pitch for questions, statements, or emotions.
Stress: Emphasis applied to specific words or syllables.
4. Neurological Control of Speech Production
4.1. Brain Regions Involved
Broca’s Area: In the inferior frontal gyrus, responsible for speech planning and articulation.
Wernicke’s Area: In the posterior superior temporal gyrus, involved in language
comprehension.
Motor Cortex: Executes voluntary muscle movements.
Auditory Cortex: Processes auditory feedback to adjust speech.
4.2. Neural Pathways
Signals originate in Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas.
Motor signals travel via the corticobulbar tract to cranial nerves.
Feedback from auditory and proprioceptive systems allows adjustment and refinement.
4.3. Speech Motor Control
Motor commands coordinate muscles involved in respiration, phonation, resonance, and
articulation. These commands obey precise timing and sequencing, vital for fluent speech.
Chapter 2: Articulatory Phonetics _Speech Production
Mechanism_ Places of Articulation_ Manners of Articulation
Study Materials: Comprehensive Notes, Summaries, Key
Terms for Exam Success, Admission Tests, and Interviews
by Syeda Sumaira Tabassum
(The Ultimate Success Notes: Your shortcut to exam, admission test, and interview success.
Includes focused study guides, quick summaries, and must-know key terms)
Phonetics and Phonology—Chapter 2_Articulatory Phonetics Speech Production Mechanism
Places of Articulation Manners of Articulation
Lesson 1: The Speech Production
Mechanism
Introduction
Speech is a complex and highly coordinated human activity that allows us to communicate
thoughts, emotions, and intentions. It involves multiple systems working in harmony—anatomical
structures, physiological processes, and neurological controls. This comprehensive lesson
explores the entire speech production mechanism, detailing each component, their functions, and
how they work together to produce speech. By the end of this lesson, students will have a clear
understanding of how speech is generated, the intricate coordination involved, and the
significance of various speech mechanisms in communication.
1. Overview of Speech Production
Speech production refers to the process of transforming thoughts into spoken words. It involves
three fundamental stages:
Conceptualization: Formulating the idea or message.
Formulation: Translating the idea into linguistic form (words and sentences).
Articulation: Physically producing sounds to express the message.
,This lesson emphasizes the second and third stages—formulation and articulation, which involve
intricate physiological and neurological processes.
2. The Anatomical Foundations of Speech Production
2.1. The Respiratory System
Primary Role: Provides the airflow necessary for speech.
Lungs: The main air reservoir, enabling us to generate airflow.
Diaphragm: A dome-shaped muscle beneath the lungs, crucial for inhalation.
Intercostal Muscles: Located between ribs, they assist in expanding and compressing the
thoracic cavity.
Larynx: The voice box, located at the top of the trachea; produces voiced sounds.
Trachea: The windpipe conducting airflow from the lungs to the larynx.
Function in Speech:
The respiratory system creates an airstream, which is modulated to produce different speech
sounds. The process begins with inhalation, filling the lungs with air, followed by controlled
exhalation that supplies airflow through the larynx and articulatory system.
2.2. The Larynx and Phonation
Primary Role: Sound source through voice production.
Vocal Folds (Vocal Cords): Folds of tissue within the larynx that vibrate to produce sound.
Glottis: The opening between the vocal cords that can open and close.
Vocal Fold Vibration: When air passes through the glottis, vocal cords vibrate, generating
voiced sounds.
Mechanism:
The vibration depends on subglottic pressure (air pressure below the vocal folds) and the precise
control of the vocal cords' tension and length.
2.3. The Articulatory System
Primary Role: Shaping sound into recognizable speech sounds.
Oral Cavity: Includes the tongue, teeth, palate, and lips.
Nasal Cavity: Contributes especially to nasal sounds like /m/, /n/, /ŋ/.
Articulators:
Tongue: Most active articulator, shaping sounds significantly.
Lips: Labial sounds (/p/, /b/, /m/).
Teeth: For dental sounds (/θ/, /ð/).
Hard Palate and Soft Palate (Velum): For consonants and nasal sounds.
Velopharyngeal Port: Controls nasal vs. oral resonance.
,Function:
The articulatory system modifies the raw sound generated by the larynx and respiratory system
into specific speech sounds via movements and positioning of articulators.
2.4. The Nervous System
Primary Role: Controls and integrates all speech components.
Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Nerves that transmit signals to/from the brain.
Cerebral Cortex: Especially Broca’s area (speech production) and the motor cortex.
Subcortical Structures: Basal ganglia, cerebellum.
Nerves Involved:
Vagus nerve (CN X): Controls laryngeal muscles.
Facial nerve (CN VII): Controls lips.
Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII): Controls tongue movements.
Trigeminal nerve (CN V): Controls jaw movements.
Function:
The nervous system orchestrates muscle movements, timing, and coordination necessary for
speech production, from breath control to articulation.
3. The Physiological Process of Speech Production
3.1. Initiation: Breath Control and Subglottic Pressure
Speech begins with controlled inhalation followed by exhalation, which provides the airflow
needed for phonation.
The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract to inhale.
During speech, exhalation is controlled by the abdominal muscles to maintain consistent
subglottic pressure.
Sufficient pressure is essential for phonation, especially for sustained sounds and loudness.
3.2. Phonation: Producing Voice
Air expelled from the lungs passes through the glottis, where the vocal folds vibrate.
Vocal fold vibration produces a raw sound wave, the fundamental frequency—or pitch.
Adjustments in tension, mass, and length of the vocal cords allow for pitch modulation.
Lateral and medial compression of the vocal folds changes loudness.
3.3. Resonance and Filtering
The raw sound generated by the vocal cords is filtered and shaped by the resonating cavities:
, Oral cavity: Modifies sound for vowels and many consonants.
Nasal cavity: Adds nasal resonance during specific sounds.
Pharyngeal cavity: Acts as a resonator that influences voice quality.
Resonance adds richness and timbre to the voice, differentiating speech sounds.
3.4. Articulation: Shaping Speech Sounds
Articulatory movements modify the resonance to produce specific phonemes.
The tongue’s position creates vowels and some consonants.
Lips form labial sounds.
Teeth and tongue shape alveolar sounds.
The soft palate raises or lowers to switch between oral and nasal sounds.
Coordination: The precise timing and movement of articulators are vital for clear speech.
3.5. Suprasegmental Features: Prosody, Intonation, and
Stress
Beyond individual sounds, speech involves stress, pitch, rhythm, and intonation, which convey
meaning and emotional tone.
Prosody: The melody and rhythm of speech.
Intonation: Variations in pitch for questions, statements, or emotions.
Stress: Emphasis applied to specific words or syllables.
4. Neurological Control of Speech Production
4.1. Brain Regions Involved
Broca’s Area: In the inferior frontal gyrus, responsible for speech planning and articulation.
Wernicke’s Area: In the posterior superior temporal gyrus, involved in language
comprehension.
Motor Cortex: Executes voluntary muscle movements.
Auditory Cortex: Processes auditory feedback to adjust speech.
4.2. Neural Pathways
Signals originate in Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas.
Motor signals travel via the corticobulbar tract to cranial nerves.
Feedback from auditory and proprioceptive systems allows adjustment and refinement.
4.3. Speech Motor Control
Motor commands coordinate muscles involved in respiration, phonation, resonance, and
articulation. These commands obey precise timing and sequencing, vital for fluent speech.
