ARTICULATORS OF SPEECH SOUNDS

ARTICULATORY ORGANS

Speech sounds are basically a stream of air that in most cases originates in the lungs, passes through the larynx, the mouth and finally exits. The articulatory organs are responsible for affecting the air flow and modifying it giving you the different nuances that distinguish between a speech sound and other. The articulatory organs are divided into two groups: Active and Passive.

- Active Articulators (mobile)

Active articulators are parts of the vocal apparatus that move to cause a

obstruction (partial or total) and affect the movement of the air stream. The organs

assets are:

1. Tongue: apex, fore, middle, back, and root.

2. Lower lip

3. Vocal cords

4. Soft palate (Always used in combination with another articulator)

- Passive Articulators (immobile)

Passive articulators are the parts of the body that active articulators touch or come close to cause a total or partial obstruction and thus affect the movement of the air stream. Passive articulators are:

1. Upper lip 2. Teeth: the upper incisors and their posterior aspect. 3. Alveoli 4. Postalveolar region: posterior to the alveoli and anterior to the arch of the palate Lasted. 5. Hard palate 6. Soft palate (anterior soft palate) 7. Uvula 8. Posterior side of the pharynx

ARTICULATION ZONES

when we produce consonant sounds the air passage is totally or partially obstructed. This obstruction occurs when an active articulator approaches or makes contact with a passive articulator. TO This relationship (approach or overlap) between both articulators is called joint area. For example, some sounds, like p, are called lipsticks because they articulate with the lips. Others, like you, are called dental because articulate with the tip of the tongue in contact with the teeth. Other areas of articulation are the alveoli (there are produced sounds such as l, r, etc.), the different palate areas, etc.