The Mechanics of Speech: A Guide to Articulators Above the Larynx

The Geography of Sound: Exploring Articulators Above the Larynx

A Deep Dive into the Vocal Tract (Based on Peter Roach)

When we speak, we are essentially sculpting air. The air begins as a raw stream from the lungs, is buzzed by the larynx, and is finally shaped into recognizable words by the Articulators.

In English Phonetics and Phonology, Peter Roach emphasizes that we cannot understand sounds without understanding the machinery that makes them. Today, we are looking specifically at the Vocal Tract—the complex system of cavities above the larynx.

The Two Types of Articulators

To understand the diagram, we must first distinguish between the two players in this game:

• Active Articulators: These do the moving. The Tongue and the Lips are the primary active articulators.
• Passive Articulators: These do not move. They act as the stationary targets. The Teeth, Alveolar Ridge, and Hard Palate are passive.

Example: To make the sound /t/, your active tongue tip reaches up to touch the passive alveolar ridge.

The 7 Key Zones of Articulation

Use the interactive diagram on the right to follow along and click/hover on each part to see its specific phonetic role.

1. The Lips (Bilabial & Labiodental)

The exit door. They can be pressed together (for /p/, /b/), or the bottom lip can meet the upper teeth (for /f/, /v/).

2. The Teeth (Dental)

Passive walls. For the sounds /θ/ (think) and /ð/ (this), the active tongue tip must protrude or interact directly with the upper front teeth.

3. The Alveolar Ridge (Alveolar)

The rough ridge behind your top teeth. It is the busiest spot, being the target for /t/, /d/, /s/, /z/, /n/, and /l/.

4. The Hard Palate (Palatal)

The bony 'roof' of the mouth. It is a passive articulator. When the front of the tongue targets this area, we get the palatal sound /j/ (as in yellow).

5. The Velum / Soft Palate (Velar)

The soft tissue at the back of the roof of the mouth. This muscular valve controls airflow: Raised (oral sounds like /k/) or Lowered (nasal sounds like /ŋ/).

6. The Tongue

The most flexible and critical active articulator. Roach divides it into Tip, Blade, Front (under the Hard Palate), and Back (under the Velum) for precise description.

7. The Pharynx

The throat tube. While not used for contact consonants in English, changing its volume by moving the tongue root is how we modify vowel quality.

Every sound you utter is a coordinate on this map. By learning these anatomical landmarks, you stop hearing "letters" and start seeing the mechanical movements of speech.

Interactive Vocal Tract Diagram

Click or hover over any colored area for details.

Click or hover on the articulators in the diagram to learn about their specific roles in speech production (e.g., Active vs. Passive, Phonemes produced).