Speech and the Respiratory

System
Speech, a form of human communication, is produced
by three groups of organs working together:
respiratory, phonatory and articulatory. The dominant
elements of the respiratory system [1] are the lungs,
the chest wall and the diaphragm. Working together,
they provide the mechanical energy in form of air
pressure, the aerodynamic energy of the speech (Kent
& Read 2) needed to produce sound in the larynx. The
tongue, the lips, the jaw and the velum, the articulatory
elements of the speech organs, modify the properties
of created sounds. The extent of modification depends
on several factors, including the position of articulatory
organs, the intensity of sound (pressure), physical
properties of the tissues, etc. The larynx is the place of
phonation.
The respiratory system [2] is located in the chest
(thorax) a cavity, created by rib cage and the
muscles. The ribs are posteriorly connected to the
vertebral column, and anteriorly to the sternum
(breast-bone). This thoracic cavity is on its top limited
by the shoulder blades (scapuae), and on the bottom
by the diaphragm. The lungs are located within the
thoracic cavity: they are a cone-shaped organ, made of
sponge-like matter, consisting of many bronchioles that
branch into numerous alveoli. The lungs and the inward
surface of the cage are connected with pleural linkage,
a fluid-like matter that makes possible for the lungs to
expand or shrink simultaneously with the cavity. The
lungs act as bellows (Crystal 20): after the chest
muscles flex, the pressure inside the lungs increases,
which forces air to exit; in reverse, by lowering the
diaphragm or flexing the rib muscles, the pressure

inside the lungs decreases, which forces the air to enter

the respiratory system.

The Respiratory System

(Wikipedia)
There are two important phases in the respiratory
system that are related to speech: inspiration and
exhalation. They make the respiratory cycle, which is
relevant not only in providing the energy, but also in
the sequential organization of speech
(Clark, Introduction 21). Inspiration, or the process of
inhaling, occurs when the thoracic volume increases,
which causes the lowering of the pressure in lungs. This
pressure difference causes air to enter the system. The
increase of space within the thorax is achieved by the
rib cage moving upwards (caused by shortening of
intercostal muscles) or by lowering of the diaphragm.
Expiration, or exhalation, is achieved by the elastic
recoil forces or relaxation pressure (24).

A still image from real-time MRI

taken during speech (Wikipedia)
However, in situations where more energy is needed
(shouting, prolonged speaking), the muscles activate to
help the air stream mechanism and increase the flow of
air. The subcostal muscles and the traverse thoracic
muscles shrink the rib cage, while abdominal muscles
(the traverse, internal oblique, external oblique and the
rectus abdominis) compress the abdomen (25). In an
experiment [3] described by Clark (27), Ladefoged,
among others, showed that significant energy must be
used to maintain the air energy once the exhalation
phase reaches zero capacity. This is why speech does
not exploit this part of the expiratory phase except
under extreme conditions (28).
This post is based on a draft for one of the introductory
chapters in my paper.
Next text: The Speech Organs and Airstream

[1] Another system directly involved in speech is the

nervous system.
[2]The discussion in was adopted from Clarks chapter
about the speech organs.
[3] Although, the experiment was done on one subject
only warned Ladefoged.

Related posts:
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Romeo Mlinar
Languagebits.com Author

View all posts by Romeo Mlinar

Posted onNovember 7, 2011AuthorRomeo
MlinarCategoriesPhoneticsTagsorgans, phonation,phonetics, speech

4 thoughts on Speech and the Respiratory System

1. Pingback: The Speech Organs and Airstream |

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2. Pingback: Physics of Speech | Language bits
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mikaylasays:

June 13, 2013 at 02:19

it helped me alot in my school work many time

4.
July 2, 2013 at 1

leonilasays: