THE PRODUCTION

OF
SPEECH SOUNDS
1. The Speech Production Process
2. The Larynx
3. Respiration and Voicing
4. Articulators above the Larynx
5. Vowel and Consonant
1. The Speech Production Process
The speech mechanism involves
two crucial elements :

a. An energy source (the respiratory system)

b. A set of internal organs (the vocal tract:

lungs, trachea, larynx, pharynx, oral and
nasal cavities)
 D. Chiţoran: The vocal tract may be
divided into three main parts:

 The thorax and the (where the act of

lungs
phonation is
initiated)
 The larynx
(where the sounds
are actually
generated)
 The supraglottal
cavities (which act as
resonators)
2.1. The Larynx (a description)
2.1. The Larynx (a description)
 2.2. The Larynx
(positions of the vocal folds)

1. The wide apart position 2. The narrow glottis position

3. Position for vocal fold 4. Vocal folds tightly closed

vibration position
 3. Respiration and Voicing
 Egressive pulmonic = the airflow generated
airstream when the lungs are
compressed by the
rib cage

= a phenomenon
 Phonation/ Voicing occurring when the
(varies in intensity, egressive airstream
passes through the
frequency or vocal folds
quality)
4. The Articulators above the Larynx
 5.1. Vowel and Consonant
(phonetic aspects)
 VOWELS = sounds produced with
no obstruction to the
flow of air that comes
out of the lungs
= sounds in the
production of which
 CONSONANTS the airflow is
obstructed at some
point in the vocal
tract.
 5.2. Vowel and Consonant
(phonological considerations)
Disagreement as regards the status of:
 /w/ as in ‘watch’
 /j/ as in ‘year’

Phonetic level: no obstruction to the airflow

Phonological level: they act as consonants
a watch *an watch
a year *an year