The Teaching of Speaking

PRONUNCIATION

Prepared by: Carmelita L. Dasalla, LPT

What is pronunciation?
Pronunciation is the way in
which a word is pronounced.
THE SPEECH SOUNDS
 4 Speech Mechanisms
1. MOTORS
- The LUNGS play an important function in voice
production since they serve as the storage place for
air.
- The air expelled from the lungs acts as the motor
setting vocal cords into vibration.
- The motor consists of the respiratory muscles in
the diaphragm which are responsible for regulation,
expulsion, and control of air.
2. VIBRATORS
- This refers to the vocal cords or vocal bands that
produce sound waves through vibration of air.
- The vocal cords consist of a pair of flexible flat folds
of muscles attached to the walls of the larynx or voice
box.
- When we speak, these cords tense up, move closer to
each other in parallel position and vibrate.
3. RESONATORS

- these consists of the MOUTH, NASAL CAVATIES and

the THROAT.
- Through these organs, the sound waves produced by
the vibrations of the vocal cords are made louder and in
deeper in tone.
- The process of modification and amplification of sound
are greatly affected by the condition of the resonators.
4. ARTICULATORS
- The articulators are the LIPS, TEETH, TONGUE,
UPPER GUMS, LOWER JAW, HARD PALLATE,
UVULA, etc.
- Through the correct functioning of these organs,
sounds are produced precisely and distinctively.
- This gives definite shapes and characters of sounds as
air passes through the mouth and nose.
 4 Attributes of Speaking Voice

1. PITCH

- This is the highness and lowness of sound and is

controlled by the vibration of the vocal folds.

- Pitch changes in inflection and is classified as rising,

falling and circumflex.
2. LOUDNESS

- This refers to audibility which relates to the

volume of the voice
3. DURATION

- This refers to the speaker’s rate which is the length of

time a sound is prolonged.

- It is related to the pauses before and after a thought

unit.
4. QUALITY

- This refers to the general characteristics of the tone

of the voice as a pleasant/unpleasant, rich/thin, or
husky/course.