Organs of speech / speech mechanism

Question 1

Egressive pulmonic airstream

Answer 1

Outgoing stream of air produced by the lungs

Question 2

Articulatory phonetics

Answer 2

The study of the anatomical bits and pieces (articulators) that are used to articulate.

Question 3

Name the organs of speech (groups)

Answer 3

Location System
Head Articulatory system
Throat Phonatory system
Chest Respiratory system

Question 4

Match the location with the system
Head -
Throat -
Chest -

Answer 4

Location System
Head Articulatory system
Throat Phonatory system
Chest Respiratory system

Question 5

Paralinguistic features

Answer 5

Sounds, gestures, expressions etc. that functions alongside speech.

Question 6

List the manners of articulation

Answer 6

• Closure / stops
• Friction
• Approximation
• Nasality

Question 7

What is closure / stops?

Answer 7

When air is blocked by a closure e.g. Glottal closure, dental closure.

Question 8

What is friction?

Answer 8

When air molecules are being forced between a narrow space so they rub against each other.

Question 9

What is approximation?

Answer 9

When air molecules are close to each other but not close enough to create friction

Question 10

What is Nasality?

Answer 10

When the nasal cavity Is closed off

Question 11

List the places of articulation

Answer 11

• The lips
• The alveolar ridge
• The velum

Question 12

Active vs. passive articulators

Answer 12

Active – moves one or more speech organs.

Passive – does not move any organs of speech.

Question 13

Voice vs voiceless articulation

Answer 13

Voice - has vibration

Voiceless - has no vibration

Question 14

What is the three cavities of the articulatory system?

Answer 14

Throat / pharynx – pharyngal cavity
(Located directly above the larynx)
Mouth – oral cavity
(The space inside the mouth)
Nose – nasal cavity
(The space inside the nose)

Question 15

Where is the alveolar ridge located?

Answer 15

The roof of the mouth behind front teeth

Question 16

Where is the hard palette / palatum located?

Answer 16

The smooth, hard part behind the alveolar ridge

Question 17

Where is the soft palette / Velum located?

Answer 17

Further back, behind the hard palate (where you feel a gag-reflex)

Question 18

What is the uvula?

Answer 18

The lump at the end of the velum (DA: drøbel)

Question 19

What are the five portions of the tongue?

Answer 19

Tip, blade, front, back, root.

Question 20

What is the glottis?

Answer 20

The space between the vocal chords

Question 21

What is a velic closure?

Answer 21

When the back of the tongue touches the velum and closes off the nasal cavity.

Question 22

Describe alveolar articulations

Answer 22

The tongue tip / blade is in contact / close contact with the upper alveolar ridge.

Question 23

To create a velic closure, the velum is ….

a) Raised
b) Lowered

Answer 23

Answer: The velum is raised

Question 24

The velum switches the airstream to flow in one of two ways - What are they?

Answer 24

1. Soft palette raised, velic closure: Into the mouth

2. Soft palette lowered, no velic closure: Out through the nose.

Question 25

What is the larynx commonly called?

Answer 25

The voice box

Question 26

Where are the vocal folds located?

Answer 26

In the larynx

Question 27

What is the function of the vocal folds?

Answer 27

They vibrate to create sound

Question 28

What is the trachea commonly called?

Answer 28

The windpipe

Question 29

What is a bilabial sound?

Answer 29

Sound made with the lips closed to block airstream

Question 30

What is a Labio-dental sound?

Answer 30

Sound made with the lower lip is held close to the upper teeth.

Question 31

What is a dental sound?

Answer 31

Sound made by the tongue tip against or close to the front teeth.

Question 32

What are lateral sounds?

Answer 32

Sounds made with the sides of the tongue lowered

Question 33

What are articulators?

Answer 33

The anatomical bits we use to articulate sound