Speech Production Systems

Question 1

List the 4 significant speech production systems

Answer 1

1. Respiration
2. Phonation
3. Articulation
4. Resonation

Question 2

Describe Respiration

Answer 2

Respiration is, VITAL in speech production; speech CANNOT occur without a steady supply of air from the lungs

The primary role of respiration is breathing; speech is secondary

When we breathe, inhalation and exhalation each take up 50% of one respiratory cycle

This changes DRASTICALLY when we speak; inhalation is 10%, exhalation is 90% of each cycle

Question 3

What does the Respiratory system include?

Explain Inhalation and Expiration

Answer 3

The Respiratory system includes:

lungs, trachea, rib cage (thorax), abdomen, diaphragm (primary muscle of breathing), and other major muscles groups

Inhalation: the thoracic cavity expands to make room for lung expansion; diaphragm contracts and lowers, rib cage expands, external intercostals also help; air pressure decreases in the lungs and negative pressure results, air rushes in to equalize

Exhalation: the lungs deflate, diaphragm relaxes and rises, rib cage becomes smaller and lowers due to contraction of the internal intercostals and abdominal muscles which results in an expulsion of air through the trachea out of the mouth

Question 4

Describe Phonation

Answer 4

Airstream enters larynx puts pressure on vocal folds from glottal space below

When the pressure is great enough, vocal folds are pushed apart and release a burst of air

Elasticity helps to create repeated action or Vocal fold vibration

The resulting vibration of the vocal folds is called phonation

Question 5

Explain the difference between voiced and voiceless sounds

What is fundamental frequency and how does it relate to habitual change?

Does fundamental frequency change? How does it affect pitch and other perceptions?

Answer 5

Voiceless sounds: vocal folds abduct or pull apart

Voiced sounds: vocal folds adduct or come together for voiced sounds, then alternate between abduction and adduction during phonation

The basic rate of vibration of vocal folds is called the fundamental frequency

Fundamental frequency of the voice is responsible for habitual pitch (inherent voice pitch)

Fundamental frequency is not constant, but over time voice pitch changes constantly during speech production; it rises when a word is given stress for emphasis, when asking a question, and it also conveys mood

Question 6

What anatomical system affects Phonation?

Answer 6

Laryngeal system anatomy: composed of the Larynx

1. Hyoid bone and 4 Cartilages; 2 Arytenoid cartilages, 1 Cricoid cartilage, and 1 Thyroid cartilage
2. Vocal folds: elastic folds of tissue, primarily muscle

Question 7

Explain the process of Resonation, how it is affected, and its other characteristics.

Answer 7

Resonation is the vibratory pattern created by a unique vocal tract shape; each phoneme has a unique sound quality associated with it

All objects have natural frequencies of vibration, or resonances

As the articulators move from one position to the next, the natural frequencies of vibration of our filter, or resonator, or vocal tract change accordingly; how we create individual sounds

Question 8

Define Quality

(aspect of Resonance)

Why can we perceive sound?

Answer 8

Quality: the perceptual character of a sound based on its acoustic resonance patterns (Timbre is a synonym)

The size, shape, and composition of any vibrating body help to determine its unique resonating characteristic

There is a definite sound quality associated with each of the vowels and many of the voiced consonant phonemes; our ability to recognize this allows us to perceive speech

Question 9

What is the main structure of Articulation?

List the accompanying structures of articulation

Answer 9

Articulation of speech involves the joining together of the speech organs for the production of phonemes

The main structure is the Oral/Nasal Cavity

Jaw, Tongue (tip and base), teeth, lips, hard palate (alveolar ridge), Velum/Soft palate (velopharyngeal mechanism)

Question 10

List and Describe the function of each Articulatory structure

Lips, Teeth, Hard Palate, Velum, Glottis, Tongue

Answer 10

Lips: open and close in the production of several sounds; described as labial, bilabial, or rounded and unrounded/retracted

Teeth: labiodentals= lower lip and teeth, dentals/interdentals= tongue and teeth, teeth (esp. molars) help guide tongue for other sounds

Hard Palate/Alveolar Ridge: anterior 2/3 of palate, produces palatals with tongue; Alveolar Ridge: gum ridge of maxilla, posterior to upper incisors

Velum/Soft Palate: directly behind hard palate, last 1/3 of palate; Velopharyngeal closure prevents air from escaping through nasal cavity

Glottis: airstream from lungs forced through vocal fold opening

Tongue: MAJOR articulator in speech production; an active and mobile muscle that produces the “lingual” sounds; primary articulator for all English vowels; articulates with the lips, teeth, alveolar ridge, palate, and velum to produce consonants