The Articulators Are The Tongue Teeth Palates And Lips
The human language is a complex system that is composed of several organs and structures that work together to produce words and sounds. The articulators are a group of organs that are responsible for shaping and modifying the sounds produced by the vocal cords. These organs include the tongue, teeth, palates and lips.
The Tongue
The tongue is a muscular organ located in the mouth that plays a crucial role in speech. It is responsible for shaping the sounds produced by the vocal cords by changing its position and shape. The tongue is divided into several parts, including the tip, blade, front, back and root.
Each part of the tongue is responsible for producing different sounds, and therefore, the position of the tongue is crucial in speech production. For example, the front of the tongue is responsible for producing sounds such as /t/, /d/, /s/ and /z/, while the back of the tongue is responsible for producing sounds such as /k/, /g/, /r/ and /l/.
The Teeth
The teeth play an important role in speech production by helping to shape the sounds produced by the tongue. The front teeth, in particular, are crucial in producing sounds such as /f/ and /v/. When the tongue is placed between the teeth, it creates a narrow opening that produces these sounds.
Other sounds that are produced with the help of the teeth include /th/ and /sh/. These sounds are produced by placing the tongue between the upper and lower teeth, creating a narrow opening that produces the sound.
The Palates
The palates are the roof of the mouth and are divided into two parts, the hard palate and the soft palate. The hard palate is the bony part of the palate located at the front of the mouth, while the soft palate is located at the back of the mouth.
The palates play a crucial role in speech production by helping to shape the sounds produced by the tongue. The hard palate, in particular, is responsible for producing sounds such as /k/, /g/, and /ng/. When the back of the tongue is pressed against the hard palate, it creates a narrow opening that produces these sounds.
The Lips
The lips play a crucial role in speech production by helping to shape the sounds produced by the tongue. The lips are responsible for producing sounds such as /p/, /b/, /m/ and /w/. When the lips are closed and then opened quickly, it creates a burst of air that produces these sounds.
The lips also play a role in producing vowel sounds. The lips are rounded when producing sounds such as /u/ and /o/, while they are spread apart when producing sounds such as /i/ and /e/.
Conclusion
The articulators are a group of organs that work together to produce the sounds of speech. The tongue, teeth, palates, and lips play a crucial role in shaping and modifying the sounds produced by the vocal cords. Understanding the role of each of these organs is essential in speech therapy and language learning.
