Speech Production

Study Notes

Speech Production

Speech sounds are primarily made through the manipulation of air pressure and flow from the lungs, which then passes through the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate.
Speech gestures are made audible through the vibration of the vocal folds, which produces a sound wave that travels through the vocal tract and out of the mouth and nose.
Humans use their vocal apparatus to impart information through speech, which involves the coordination of multiple physical systems, including the lungs, vocal folds, and articulatory organs.
The tongue and lips make numerous gestures to form the sounds of English, with estimates suggesting around 50-60 different gestures.

Vocal Tract and Resonance

Figure 1.1 illustrates the process of speech production, highlighting the roles of the lungs, vocal folds, and vocal tract in shaping speech sounds.
The primary function of the vocal folds during speech production is to produce a sound wave through vibration, which then travels through the vocal tract.
The vocal tract, including the mouth, nose, and throat, shapes the resonance of speech sounds, giving them their unique acoustic characteristics.

Energy Source

The primary source of energy for speech production comes from the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm and other muscles involved in breathing, which generates the air pressure and flow needed to produce speech sounds.

Poem Analysis

The poem is addressed to a lady named Maud Gonne, whom the speaker, W. B. Yeats, has loved for a long time without reciprocation.
The poem explores the nature of the speaker's love, comparing it to others' love.
The main idea revolves around the distinction between physical and spiritual love.

Imagery and Themes

The speaker depicts a future scenario where Maud Gonne is old, grey, and frail, nodding by the fire.
The poem highlights the fleeting nature of physical beauty and the enduring quality of spiritual love.

Speaker's Intentions

Yeats attempts to explain the spiritual basis of his love, which is deeper and everlasting.
The speaker asks Maud Gonne to read the poem when she is old, implying that she may understand his love better in the future.

Key Quote

"When you are old and grey and full of sleep, / And nodding by the fire, take down this book"

Description

Explore the process of speech sound production, including the movements of the tongue and lips to form particular sounds. Discover the efficient way humans impart information through audible gestures of the tongue and lips.