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How does the larynx contribute to speech production?

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Diagram of a human head in profile showing the location of vocal organs and possible places of articulation for speech sounds, with labels for lips, teeth, tongue, palate, uvula, pharynx, and vocal cords, and numbered regions corresponding to types of articulation such as bilabial, alveolar, and velar.
phonetics Diagram depicting the location of human vocal organs and possible places of articulation used for speech.

In the context of phonetics, the larynx serves as the primary sound generator for speech by transforming the energy of an airstream expelled from the lungs into audible sound.1

The larynx contributes to speech production through the following mechanisms:

  • Phonation (Voicing): The larynx contains two muscular folds known as the vocal cords. When air from the lungs passes through the glottisā€”the space between these foldsā€”it can cause them to vibrate if they are held taut and adjusted to a narrow passage. Sounds produced during this vibration are classified as voiced, while sounds produced when the cords are apart are voiceless.23
  • Pitch and Volume Control: By adjusting the tension of the vocal cords, the larynx regulates the frequency of vibration, which determines the perceived pitch of the voice. The larynx also plays a role in controlling the volume of speech.34
  • Sound Generation: The raw sound produced by these vibrations emerges from the larynx and travels into the upper cavities, where it is further shaped by the pharynx, mouth, and nasal tract to create distinct speech sounds.421