How to Learn the Production of Speech Sounds || Speech Mechanism

Introduction to Speech Mechanism

Overview of Speech Production

• The lecture introduces the concept of speech sounds and their production, focusing on the differences between vowel and consonant sounds in articulation.

• Language is defined as a system of communication that includes speech, written language, visual symbols, and nonverbal cues like body language and gestures.

Understanding Morphemes and Phonetics

• Morphemes are identified as the smallest meaningful units in a language, which are further composed of phonemes or distinct sounds.

• The scientific study of speech sounds is termed phonetics, which encompasses the mechanisms involved in producing these sounds.

Mechanics of Speech Sound Production

Role of Air Stream and Vocal Cords

• Speech sound production involves various organs such as lips, teeth, tongue, and mouth; energy for sound comes from air expelled from the lungs.

• The larynx contains vocal cords that can be adjusted to either vibrate (producing voice) or remain apart (voiceless).

Classification of Speech Sounds

• Speech sounds are categorized into vowels (voiced with continuous airflow) and consonants (which may be voiced or voiceless).

• Examples illustrate how words contain both consonant and vowel sounds; e.g., "bad" has consonants B & D with vowel A.

Articulation: Oral Cavity Structure

Anatomy Involved in Sound Production

• Vowel sounds involve an open air passage without friction; consonants require specific closures or narrowings.

• The oral cavity's shape changes based on tongue and lip positions; it consists of three sections: alveolar ridge, hard palate, soft palate.

Nasal Sounds vs. Oral Sounds

• When the soft palate lowers during breathing, air escapes through the nose creating nasal sounds like M & N.

Organs of Articulation: Lips and Tongue

Functionality in Producing Sounds

• Lips can vary in position—closed or spread—to articulate different sounds effectively.

• The tongue has three sections (tip, blade, front), each capable of making contact with the roof of the mouth to produce various consonant sounds.

Summary Insights on Articulation