The audible production of language.
The ability to make intelligible sounds with the vocal cords.
A talk given to an audience.
Oral communication. Speech is one of the most important ways in which people relate to their environment. Speech disorders in children may be the result of problems such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, or cleft palate. In older people, difficulties with speech are commonly caused by injury, stroke, or brain tumor. People who experience speaking problems can benefit from speech therapy.
A framework of sounds through which humans convey messages. Speech engages the muscles associated with respiration as well as the larynx (voicebox), tongue, palate, lips, jaw, and facial expressions.
The production of speech sounds originates in two regions of the cerebral cortex, on each side of the brain, that are linked to the centre for language expression (Broca’s area) in the dominant hemisphere of the brain. The areas send signals down nerve pathways to muscles controlling the larynx, tongue, and other parts involved in speech; the cerebellum, at the back of the brain, plays a part in coordinating movements of these parts. Air from the lungs is vibrated through the vocal cords in the larynx. The vibration produces a noise that is amplified in the cavities of the throat, nose, and sinuses. The vibrated air is shaped by movements of the tongue, mouth, and lips in order to produce speech sounds.
Kids acquire language skills by attentively listening to and replicating the speech patterns of those around them. The progression of regular speech development takes place across multiple phases. This progression hinges on the child’s nervous system and muscular development, their auditory abilities being within the expected range, as well as their active engagement with both individuals and the surrounding environment.