What is speach?

Speech is a complex process involving several key elements. It's the vocalized form of communication based upon the tacit knowledge of language syntax.

• Articulation: This refers to the physical movements of the mouth, tongue, and vocal cords to produce distinct sounds. Difficulties with articulation are often referred to as speech impediments.
• Phonetics: The study and classification of speech sounds. It encompasses how sounds are produced (articulatory phonetics), the physical properties of speech sounds (acoustic phonetics), and how sounds are perceived (auditory phonetics).
• Fluency: This relates to the smoothness and rhythm of speech. Stuttering, for instance, is a fluency disorder.
• Voice: The use of vocal cords and breath to produce sound. Qualities like pitch, loudness, and tone are aspects of voice. Problems with the voice are referred to as voice disorders.
• Language: While not speech itself, language is the underlying system of symbols, rules, and conventions that allows us to formulate and understand messages. Speech is the physical expression of language.
• Resonance: The modification of sound by structures through which it passes (throat, mouth, nasal cavities). Resonance gives speech its individual quality.