Articulatory Phonethics

1. Vocal Tract
Speech sound is created by airflow through the vocal tract. It is a tube where air passes. If this
tube is open, the airflow creates a sound.
The vocal tract is divided into the oral tract within the mouth and the pharynx, and the nasal
tract within the nose. The part of oral tract that can be used to form sounds are called articulators.
Saying out ‘capital’ and noting the major movement of your tongue and lips.
2. Pharynx
it is part of the throat which extends from above the vocal cords up to the soft palate at the back
of the mouth.
It is like large chamber and in the production of speech sounds its shape and volume can be
changed in various ways:
a. By tightening the muscles which enclose it,
b. By movement of the back of the tongue, and
c. By either raising or lowering the soft palate.
3. Soft Palate (Velum)
It is a muscular flap that can be raised to press against the back wall of the pharynx and shut off
the nasal tract, preventing air from going out through the nose.
4. Hard Palate
It is a thin horizontal bony plate of the skull, located in the front part of roof of the mouth.
5. Alveolar Ridge
It is located behind the upper teeth where there is a small protuberance that we can feel with the
tip of the tongue.
6. Tongue
Tongue can be moved into many different places and different shapes. There are three different
parts of the tongue; tip, blade, front, root or back. The tip and blade lie under the alveolar
ridge; the tip is the most forward part of all and the blade between the tip and the front. The front
lies under the hard palate. It can be flat on the bottom of the mouth or it can be raised to touch
the hard palate. The back of the tongue lies under the soft palate when the tongue is at rest.
7. Teeth
Teeth are categorized into upper and lower teeth. The upper teeth are more important than lower
ones as there are many sounds articulated by the upper teeth
8. Lips
Lips are divided into lower and upper lips.