Describe the process of articulation in speech production.

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Describe the process of articulation in speech production.

The process of articulation in speech production involves the coordination of various speech organs to produce sounds. It can be divided into three main stages: initiation, phonation, and articulation.

1. Initiation: The process begins with the initiation of speech by the brain, which sends signals to the muscles involved in speech production. These muscles include the diaphragm, which controls the airflow, and the muscles of the vocal folds.

2. Phonation: In this stage, the vocal folds vibrate, producing sound. The airflow from the lungs passes through the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate and create a buzzing sound. This sound is known as the voice source.

3. Articulation: The final stage involves the shaping of the sound produced by the vocal folds into recognizable speech sounds. This is achieved by the precise movement and positioning of the articulatory organs, such as the tongue, lips, teeth, and palate. Different speech sounds are produced by modifying the airflow and the shape of the vocal tract.

During articulation, the vocal tract acts as a resonating chamber, amplifying and modifying the sound produced by the vocal folds. The specific movements and positions of the articulatory organs determine the unique characteristics of each speech sound.

Overall, the process of articulation in speech production involves the coordination of the brain, muscles, vocal folds, and articulatory organs to produce the wide range of sounds that make up human speech.