Unit 2 Speech Mechanism

Objectives:

Hello!After learning the importance of language communication let

us understand howweare able to produce sound when we speak and engage

ourselves in oralcommunication.. At the end of the unit youare expectedto:

 determine the different parts of the speech mechanism;

 master the different functions of the speech mechanism parts;
 explain the phonation process;
 Understand how speech sound is produced when talking or
speaking.

What is speech mechanism?

Speech mechanism pertains to the different parts of the body used

when we are producing speech sounds. To understand better, let us
know what the following terms are:

Speech - This pertains to the manner or act of speaking.

Phonation - This is the process by which speech sounds are
produced
Phonetics - Representing articulate sounds or speech; especially
designating the representation of each speech sound
by a distinct character or be a distinctive spelling or
mark. Example: [ a ] [ æ]
sock sack

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Why phonation is closely related or linked to the respiratory and
digestive system?

1. Speech communication is made possible by the air expelled by

the lungs in exhalation.
2. The parts of the human speech mechanism are primarily
intended for respiration and digestion.

What are the parts of the body used for talking or speaking? Take note
that these parts of the body are described based on how they function
when talking or speaking:

Parts of the Speech Mechanism

 Lungs
o Air sac which expands when breathing muscles draw in air
and shrink when air is forced out.

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 Trachea
o Air hose between the lungs and the mouth
 Vocal Chords
o Ligament attached to the muscles at the side of the larynx
or voice box.
 Pharynx
o It aids in the increasing force, richness and variety of sound.
 Nasal Cavities
o The 2 passages located just above the hard palate.
 Mouth
o It contains the organs of articulation
 Tongue
o A flexible mass of muscles used for articulation
 Hard palate
o The dome of the mouth and acts as a resonator of sound.
 Soft Palate
o The backward extension of the hard palate. It can stop the
flow of breath from going into the nose or allow to go
into the nose.
 Diaphragm
o The huge muscle that bisects the body between the chest
and the abdomen.
 Larynx
o Use for vibrating breath stream.
 Jaw
o 2 bone parts that hold the teeth and mouth. It determines
the success of articulation.
 Lips
o In speech, it is characterized by flexibility

 Teeth

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 o It serves as point of contact for the tongue for certain
sounds
 Uvula
o This is the projection at the end of the soft palate. It serves
as a valve to aid in closing the nasal passage.

With the enumerated parts of the speech mechanism, they are

categorized based on how they function.

The Speech Mechanism Group

1. Motors
- They serve as a pump to compress air and they are the prime
movers in the production of sound.
2. Articulators
- These are sound modifiers and gives final shape to the sound
produced
3. Resonators
- They amplify / intensify/ enrich the voice
- It gives quality of the voice sounds
4. Vibrators
- It is where speech sound starts to be produced

To better understand the function of each part in the process, we

group them into four:

THE THE
THE MOTORS THE VIBRATORS
ARTICULATORS RESONATORS

Lungs Larynx or voice box Upper & lower lips Mouth or buccal
Trachea Vocal cords or vocal Upper and lower cavity
Diaphragm folds teeth
Lower jaw
Abdominal Alveolar ridge or gum
Pharynx
Muscles ridge
Rib Cage Hard palate
Nasal cavity

Soft palate or velum Uvula

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 Tongue
Lower jaw

Process of Producing Speech Sound

1 2 3
4
Inhalation Muscle Exhalation
Contraction Process Passage of the
air to the
trachea
9
5
Resonation or
amplification
Passage of the
air to the
larynx
8 7
6
Speech sound
Articulation
production of sound Production of
wave sound wave

We can see how we produced sound it all starts in the inhalation

process, you will notice that after talking for a period of time you will
be out or breath , this is because, as mentioned in earlier, we barrow
the air, for talking instead of breathing. Thus, making AIR as the basic
element of sound. With air, we cannot produce sound.