Descriptive Grammar of English
WSJO 2010/2011 – Year 2
The vocal tract (2)
1.
Speech production involves three major processes:
• respiration
• phonation
• resonance and articulation
2.
The functional components of the vocal tract – the subglottal vocal tract, the larynx, the supraglottal vocal tract (there is a
direct link between these components and the processes mentioned above
SUPRAGLOTTAL
VOCAL TRACT
SUBGLOTTAL
VOCAL TRACT
Figure 1. Functional model of the vocal tract (after Clark and Yallop 1996: 12)
3.
The thoracic cavity and the respiration cycle:
•
the thoracic cavity consists of: ribs, muscles (the diaphragm), lungs and bronchial tubes, trachea
•
the respiratory cycle (inspiration and expiration) provides the major source of airflow for speech sounds
4.
The larynx – acts as a valve which opens or closes the passage to the upper parts of the vocal tract
5.
The pharyngeal cavity:
•
one of the principal resonators of the voice produced in the larynx
•
three main parts: laryngo-pharynx, oro-pharynx, naso-pharynx (the entrance to this part is known as the velopharyngeal
port)
•
it makes a passive contribution to speech production but its shape and size may be modified for articulatory effects by:
− the action of the muscles enclosing the pharynx
− the movement of the back of the tongue
− the position of the soft palate
− the raising of the larynx itself
Descriptive Grammar of English
6.
7.
8.
WSJO 2010/2011 – Year 2
The oral cavity:
•
another resonator
•
its importance rests on our ability to control its shape and size by moving the tongue and other active articulators
•
relatively fixed boundaries of the oral cavity: the teeth, the hard palate and the pharyngeal wall (the remaining
articulators are movable)
The nasal cavity:
•
another resonating cavity
•
the nasal cavity has a complex shape, but it lacks muscular structure to vary its shape
The soft palate:
•
a flexible muscular tissue ending at the uvula
•
the position of the soft palate:
− raised: oral sounds are produced
− lowered: nasalized sounds are produced
− lowered with a complete obstruction to the airstream in the mouth (no oral escape): nasal sounds are produced
9.
The larynx has a skeletal frame formed by a series of cartilages:
Figure 2. The larynx: anterior and posterior views (after Clark and Yallop 1996: 179)
•
the cricoid cartilage forms the base of the larynx
•
the thyroid cartilage acts as a shield for the vocal folds
•
the arytenoids control positioning of the attached vocal folds
•
hinged to the upper part of the thyroid cartilage is the epiglottis