How do the lungs, vocal cords, tongue, lips, and palate work together to produce speech?

Speech production is a complex process that superimposes linguistic communication onto the body's respiratory system. It begins with the expulsion of air from the lungs, which provides the necessary energy for sound.123

As this airstream travels up the trachea, it passes through the vocal cords located in the larynx. When these cords are held taut, the air causes them to vibrate, creating "voice" or voicing. The frequency of these vibrations determines the pitch of the sound, while the force of the breath influences its loudness.143

Once the air passes the larynx, it enters the vocal tract, where the tongue, lips, and palate act as articulators to shape the sound. By creating blockages or narrowing the passage at different points—such as between the tongue and the soft palate or between the lips—these organs produce distinct consonants. The soft palate can also be raised to direct air through the mouth or lowered to allow air into the nasal cavity, creating nasal sounds. Vowels are formed by adjusting the shape of the entire vocal tract without creating major obstructions.1532