Articulators involved in sound production

Articulators involved in sound production

Articulators are the organs of the vocal tract that help modify the flow of air to produce the different sounds of speech. These organs can be either active (they move to shape sounds) or passive (they serve as contact points).

 Active Articulators:

Lips: They can come together (as in /p/ or /b/) or come close to the teeth (/f/, /v/).

Tongue: The most flexible articulator. It can move in various directions and touch different parts of the mouth:

Tip

Sides

Back (dorsum)

Lower jaw: Helps open or close the mouth, affecting the height and clarity of sounds.

Uvula: Although not common in English, it plays a role in uvular sounds in other languages.

 Passive Articulators:

Teeth: Especially the upper teeth, important for dental sounds like /θ/ and /ð/.

Alveolar ridge: The area just behind the upper teeth; contact point for alveolar sounds like /t/, /d/, /n/, /s/.

Hard palate: Used in palatal sounds such as /j/.

Velum (soft palate): Involved in velar sounds like /k/, /g/, /ŋ/.

Picture 1.

The Articulatory System – Psychology of Language.

Note. Adapted from Psychology of Language [Picture], by https://opentextbc.ca/psyclanguage/chapter/the-articulatory-system/

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