ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the speech production process in two stages. It outlines the working of the speech production mechanism in a way that will enable students. First, it considers the role of the lungs and the larynx. This part of the speech organs is responsible for the actions of the vocal folds, which are located inside the larynx. Second, the chapter deals with the role of the channel extending from the larynx onwards, called the vocal tract. It is formed by the pharynx, the mouth and, for nasal and nasalized sounds, the nasal cavity. A crucial requirement for the production of acoustic energy is a mechanism to create an air pressure difference in the appropriate locations in the larynx and the vocal tract. Variations in the frequency of vibration are heard by the listener as variations of pitch: the more frequently the vocal folds open and close, the higher the pitch.
