HUMAN SPEECH APPARATUS

Stages in voice Production

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

STAGE 1 – BREATHING

2 PHASES

1. Inhalation
 Upper part of the chest expands
 Abdomen moves forward
2. Exhalation
 Chest and abdomen return to their original positions

2 PRINCIPAL STRUCTURES

1. Lungs – serves as the reservoir of air.

2. Diaphragm – a large sheet of muscle separating the chest cavity from the abdomen, forms
the floor of the chest and the roof of the abdomen

ACTIVITIES TO ATTAIN CORRECT BREATHING IN SPEECH

1. Inhale deeply and/or more rapidly.

2. Maintain a steady pressure of air as you talk.
3. Maintain an adequate breath reserve.

STAGE 2 – PHONATION

 Takes place when voice is produced in speaking as the expiratory air stream from the lungs goes
up through the trachea or windpipe to the larynx.

2 PRINCIPAL STRUCTURES

1. Larynx – principal organ of phonation; found at the top of the trachea; its protuberance
is known as the “Adam’s apple”.
2. Vocal cords – attached to the walls of the larynx; a pair of bundle s of muscles and
cartilages, which open and close at various degrees.
 In silent breathing, VCs open wide and let air in and out without hindrance.
  In whispering, they open partly, let out large amounts of air, and produce only
frictional sounds.
 In speech, VCs come together under tension and the controlled air pressure
from the lungs cause them to vibrate.

STAGE 3 – RESONATION

 It is the process of voice amplification and modification.

HUMAN RESONATORS

 Upper part of larynx

 Pharynx
o Common passageway for air and food
o Located behind the nose and mouth and includes the cavity at the back of the
tongue
o Soft palate or velum – separates the nasal pharynx from the oral cavity
 Nasal cavity
o Nose
 External – consists of cartilage; with opening called Nostrils
 Internal (Nasal Cavity) – cavity directly behind the external nose through
which the air passes on its way to the pharynx.
 Septum – bridge from the nose back through the internal nose;
divides the external and internal nose in two separate passageway
 Oral cavity
o Mouth – serves as an important resonator as well as the center for the formation of
specific speech sounds

STAGE 4 – ARTICULATION

 Occurs when the tone produced at the larynx is changed into specific sounds.
 Result of the movement of the articulators towards the points of articulation.

Articulators Points of Articulation

 Lower jaw  Upper lip

 Lower lip  Upper teeth
 Tongue  Upper alveolar ridge
 Velum (Soft Palate)  Hard palate
 Uvula  Velum