Phonetics and Phonology: Production of Speech

What is the primary role of the larynx in speech production?

Which aspect of speech production involves the vibration of vocal cords?

What happens to the vocal folds during the production of voiced consonants?

Which of the following is NOT a part of the speech production process?

Which part of the body is identified as the most active articulator?

How many monophthongs are present in English?

What is one of the criteria used for classifying vowels horizontally?

Which of the following best describes 'schwa'?

What is the function of cardinal vowels in phonetics?

Which vertical classification describes the distance between the tongue and the palate?

What defines a diphthong in English phonetics?

Which of the following examples contains a triphthong?

Which pair of words best illustrates the difference between diphthongs and monophthongs?

Which diphthong is represented by the sound in the word 'time'?

What is a characteristic of English triphthongs?

Phonetics and Phonology: Production of Speech

Speech is the result of muscles contracting and expelling the expiratory air stream from the lungs through the vocal tract.
Speech has three aspects:
- Physiological aspect: involves the physical process of articulation/production
  - Respiration: the initial phase, involving lungs, bronchi, trachea, and larynx. Air is expelled from the lungs.
  - Phonation: the larynx's role in creating sound. The larynx is made up of cartilages (thyroid, cricoid) and vocal folds.
  - Modification: the tongue moves to shape sound, using the tongue and other articulators (e.g., lips, teeth, palate).
- Acoustic aspect: focuses on the transmission of sound.
  - Vibration of vocal cords relates to sound production: periodic vibration (tones) = vowels; aperiodic vibration (noise) = consonants.
- Auditory aspect: concerns perception of speech
  - Ear (outer, middle, inner) processes sound and transmits it to the brain.

Physiological Aspect: Phases of Articulation

Respiration involves lungs, bronchi, trachea, and larynx, to expel air.
Phonation: Larynx, containing cartilages (e.g., thyroid, cricoid) and vocal folds, produce sounds.
Modification: Articulators like the tongue, lips, teeth, palate, and velum shape the sounds into specific articulations, modifying and shaping the breath sounds into distinct phonemes.

Phonation: Vocal Folds

Vocal folds are located inside the larynx
Parts of the larynx include the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple) and cricoid cartilage.
Different states of the vocal folds create different sounds:
- Wide apart (breathing, voiceless consonants)
- Narrow glottis (h)
- Vibration (vowels, voiced consonants)
- Tightly closed (glottal stop).
The glottis is the space between the vocal folds.

Modification: Articulators

Tongue: The most active articulator, various parts (tip, blade, front, back, root) play a role in modifying sounds.
Other articulators: Upper lip, lower lip, upper teeth, lower teeth, alveolar ridge, hard palate, soft palate (velum), nasal cavity, pharynx all play a role in shaping sounds.

Explore the intricate process of speech production through the physiological, acoustic, and auditory aspects. This quiz delves into how muscles, air streams, and vocal tract components work together to create spoken language. Test your understanding of the role of respiration, phonation, and sound modification in phonetics.