Respiratory and Phonatory system
The Respiratory System
The Phonatory system
Q. 1) Write a short note on the respiratory system?
Q. 2) Write a short note on the phonatory system?
Q. 3) Explain the phonatory and the respiratory system in your own words.
Q. 4) Explain the function of vocal cords or write a short note on the vocal cords.
Q. 5) Write a short note on the larynx.
Q. 6) Write a short note on different positions of vocal cords.
The Respiratory System:
The respiration means breathing in and breathing out. The respiratory system has the lungs, the chest muscles and the windpipe ( also called the trachea). Our lunchs are a very important part of our body. They can take the air in or they can throw the air out. In both cases, the air goes through the trachea. In simple words, we call it breathing in and breathing out. This process produces an airstream and without an airstream, no sounds can be produced. And so the lungs that provide the airstream are very important for the speech sounds.
But remember that like lungs, certain other organs can also produce an airstream. But the airstream which comes from the lungs is called an egressive pulmonic airstream. In other words, the airstream produced by the lungs is called the egressive pulmonic airstream. Here pulmonic means lungs and egressive airstream means the airstream going out of the lungs. English and all the other European languages and also all the Indian languages use the egressive pulmonic airstream.
The Phonatory System:
We know that the airstream coming from the lungs is made to change. The first change ( modification) in the airstream is made in the trachea. For example, let's pronounce the words ‘seal’ and ‘zeal’ one after another. We will notice ‘a hum’ sound in the sound ‘z’. But no sound is heard in the sound ‘s’. The reason is that we listen to ‘the hum’ sound because the airstream is modified or changed in the trachea.
There are two important parts that we should study in the phonatory system: the first is the larynx and the second is the vocal cords.
i) The Larynx: The larynx is in the neck. Its main structure is made of two cartilages. These are hollow and are attached to the top of the trachea. When we breathe in, the air goes through the trachea and the larynx. The front of the larynx comes to a point. This point is called the Adam's Apple. Inside the larynx, there is a pair of lips- like structure. These are called the vocal cords.
The different positions of the vocal cords:
Wide open: When the vocal cords ( vocal folds) are wide open, the air passes freely between them, and so there is no vocal folds vibration.The opening between the vocal folds is called the glottis. When the vocal folds are wide open, we say that the glottis is open. When the vocal folds are wide open and when there is no vibration as the air goes freely, we produce ‘voiceless sounds’. Examples are voiceless consonants like ‘p’, ‘f’ & ‘s’.
Narrow Glottis: When the vocal folds are brought close together but not so close as to touch eath other and to create vibration. The result is a fricative sound like ‘h’. It is called a voiceless glottal fricative. It is very much similar to whispering.
Glottis in Vibration: When the edges of the vocal folds touch each other, the air going through them produces vibration. And so we get voiced sounds such as ‘b’, ‘d’ and ‘g’. This vibration of the vocal cords ( folds) is called phonation.
Closed Glottis: When the vocal folds are firmly pressed together and the air cannot pass through them, we say that the glottis is closed. Remember during the time of eating and drinking the glottis is closed so that no food or drink enters the windpipe( trachea). And when all of a sudden, they are drawn apart an explosive sound is produced. This is called the glottal stop. This glottal stop is like the sound of a mild cough. In English, when we pronounce the initial sounds in words like ‘ act’, ‘empty’ and ‘ uncle’, we notice explosive sounds from these initial vowels.
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