Organs of speech
The organs of speech are the parts of the body involved in the production of speech sounds. These organs work together to modify air that is expelled from the lungs to produce various sounds. The main organs of speech include:
1. Lungs – Provide the airflow necessary for speech production by pushing air up through the trachea.
2. Trachea (windpipe) – A tube that directs air from the lungs to the vocal cords.
3. Larynx (voice box) – Contains the vocal cords, which vibrate to produce sound as air passes through them.
4. Vocal cords – Located in the larynx, they vibrate to produce sound when air passes through them.
5. Pharynx (throat) – A cavity that helps direct airflow and shape the sounds produced by the vocal cords.
6. Hard palate– The roof of the mouth, which helps in articulating sounds like /tʃ/ and /dʒ/.
7. Soft palate(velum) – The back part of the roof of the mouth, which helps in producing nasal sounds like /m/ and /n/.
8. Tongue – The most versatile organ, used to create a wide range of sounds by positioning itself in various places in the mouth (e.g., tip, blade, body).
9. Lips – Used to form sounds such as /p/, /b/, /m/, and others.
10. Teeth – Used for articulation in sounds like /θ/ and /s/.
These organs work together in coordination to produce the sounds we recognize as speech.