Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do the mouth, tongue, teeth, lips, and palates shape the sound made by the larynx?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
speech
Speech is the faculty of producing articulated sounds, which, when blended together, form language.
The larynx produces the raw material for speech through the vibration of the vocal cords, creating what is known as voice. This sound is then shaped into distinct speech sounds as it travels through the vocal tract, where the mouth, tongue, teeth, lips, and palates act as articulators to modify the airstream.123
- Tongue: As the most mobile organ, the tongue creates various constrictions or blockages by moving toward different parts of the oral tract, such as the alveolar ridge or the palate.13
- Lips and Teeth: These structures are used to obstruct or narrow the airflow, forming sounds like p, b, f, and v.2
- Palates: The hard palate provides a rigid surface for the tongue to approach, while the soft palate (velum) acts as a muscular flap. When raised, it blocks the nasal tract to produce oral sounds; when lowered, it allows air to pass through the nose, creating nasal sounds.1342
By adjusting these configurations, the vocal tract creates the complex sound waves that we perceive as speech.32