University of Blida 02 Faculty of Foreign Languages Department of English Teacher: Miss Dahia
Groups: 01 & 05 Handout 02
Organs of Speech & Manner and Place of Articulation
1. The Organs of Speech
The main organs of speech are:
• Lungs: The lungs provide the airstream for speech.
• Trachea (windpipe): The trachea is a tube that carries the airstream from
the lungs to the larynx.
• Larynx (voice box): The larynx contains the vocal folds, which vibrate
to produce voice.
• Pharynx (throat): The pharynx is a tube that connects the larynx to the
oral and nasal cavities.
• Oral cavity (mouth): The oral cavity contains the lips, teeth, tongue, and
hard palate.
• Nasal cavity (nose): The nasal cavity is connected to the oral cavity by
the velum (soft palate).
2. Production of Speech Sounds
The production of speech sounds (speech chain) can be divided into three stages:
(Clark and Yallop, 1992)
1. Initiation: The airstream is initiated by the lungs; they provide the energy
source. (figure 2)
2. Phonation: The vocal folds vibrate to produce voice; the energy is converted
into an audible sound. This is not necessary for all speech sounds, but it is for
vowels and voiced consonants. (figure 4)
3. Articulation: The articulators modify the airstream to produce intelligible speech sounds. (figure 6)
3. Manner of Articulation
The manner of articulation can be divided into the following categories:
• Stops: Stops are produced by completely blocking the airstream: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g]
• Fricatives: Fricatives are produced by narrowing the airstream and creating friction [f], [v], [s], [z], [h]
• Nasals: Nasals are produced by lowering the velum and allowing the airstream to flow through the
nasal cavity: [m], [n], [ŋ]
• Affricates: Affricates are produced by a combination of a stop and a fricative [tʃ], [dʒ]
• Approximants: Approximants are produced by narrowing the airstream without creating friction
[w], [j]
NOTE: Vowels are not typically considered to be a manner of articulation in the same way that consonants
are. This is because vowels are produced with a relatively open vocal tract, which allows for a wide range of
Groups: 01 & 05 Handout 02
Organs of Speech & Manner and Place of Articulation
1. The Organs of Speech
The main organs of speech are:
• Lungs: The lungs provide the airstream for speech.
• Trachea (windpipe): The trachea is a tube that carries the airstream from
the lungs to the larynx.
• Larynx (voice box): The larynx contains the vocal folds, which vibrate
to produce voice.
• Pharynx (throat): The pharynx is a tube that connects the larynx to the
oral and nasal cavities.
• Oral cavity (mouth): The oral cavity contains the lips, teeth, tongue, and
hard palate.
• Nasal cavity (nose): The nasal cavity is connected to the oral cavity by
the velum (soft palate).
2. Production of Speech Sounds
The production of speech sounds (speech chain) can be divided into three stages:
(Clark and Yallop, 1992)
1. Initiation: The airstream is initiated by the lungs; they provide the energy
source. (figure 2)
2. Phonation: The vocal folds vibrate to produce voice; the energy is converted
into an audible sound. This is not necessary for all speech sounds, but it is for
vowels and voiced consonants. (figure 4)
3. Articulation: The articulators modify the airstream to produce intelligible speech sounds. (figure 6)
3. Manner of Articulation
The manner of articulation can be divided into the following categories:
• Stops: Stops are produced by completely blocking the airstream: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g]
• Fricatives: Fricatives are produced by narrowing the airstream and creating friction [f], [v], [s], [z], [h]
• Nasals: Nasals are produced by lowering the velum and allowing the airstream to flow through the
nasal cavity: [m], [n], [ŋ]
• Affricates: Affricates are produced by a combination of a stop and a fricative [tʃ], [dʒ]
• Approximants: Approximants are produced by narrowing the airstream without creating friction
[w], [j]
NOTE: Vowels are not typically considered to be a manner of articulation in the same way that consonants
are. This is because vowels are produced with a relatively open vocal tract, which allows for a wide range of
