Speech

Way of communication by which thought or information can be conveyed or understood. It includes verbal speech,
written speech, communication via signs / gestures and music. First stage in development of speech is association
between heard words, visual and tactile sensation. These impressions are stored in the child’s memory.

Verbal Mechanism of Speech

1. Phonation
2. Articulation
3. Resonance

Phonation
Production of sound or voice and occurs in larynx. Sound is produced by vibration of vocal cords that are folds
protruding from wall of larynx. For phonation, with vocal cords must be adducted (in contact) with each other.
Adductors contract so that with vocal cord are adducted. Recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies intrinsic muscles of
larynx, which are adductors.
The subglottic pressure increases, air passes through at high speed.

Frequency/Pitch
Frequency is the vibration of the vocal cords. It is given in cycles per second. Cycles / second is how many times it
vibrates.
It depends on:
o Length of vocal cords
o Thickness of edges of vocal cords
o Tension in the vocal cord

In males, vocal cords are larger, longer and edges are thicker, so voice is low pitched (decreased frequency). In
females, cords are shorter, smaller and has thinner edges so high pitched voice.

Loudness depends upon:

o Amplitude of vibration of vocal cord
o Force of expired air
Increased force of expired air – Increased amplitude of vibration – louder is the sound

Articulation
Conversion of sound produced in the larynx into words. There are 3 main organs for articulation:
o Lips
o Tongue
o Soft palate
o Teeth (also help)

Resonance
Refers to quality/timber of sound. Depends on overtones. Resonance to sound is given by the resonating chambers
such as nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, pharynx, thoracic cavity.
Control of Speech Mechanism
It includes:

1. Respiratory centres
2. Motor cortex
3. Basal ganglia
4. Cerebellum
5. Speech are in cerebral cortex of dominant hemispheres
6. Right handed so left hemisphere has speech area. Even in left handed person – left hemispheres is
dominant.

Speech Areas
1. Motor Speech Area / Broca’s Area [44]
Location – in the inferior frontal gyrus in front of the face representation area in the primary motor area.
Groups of fibres pass from Wernicke’s area to the Broca’s area through a bundle called Arcuate Fasciculus,
and in this area, detailed motor pattern for the contraction of muscles involved in articulation are formed.
Impulses from this area go to primary motor are to initiate muscle contraction.

2. Sensory Speech Area / Wernicke’s Area / General interpretative area / Brodmann’s Area 22
Location – In the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus.
It receives:
o All auditory and visual information completely understood
o Thoughts are formulated
o What to be spoken is decided
o Words are chosen
o Sentences are made
Then impulses from her go to Broca’s area through the Arcuate Fasciculus. This area is concerned with
high intellectual functions.
Impulses from auditory cortex (ear) or visual cortex (eye) go to the Wernicke’s area.

3. Angular Gyrus – Brodmann Area 39

Located in the lower part of past-parietal cortex
Anteriorly this area is continuous with Wernicke’s area and posteriorly with secondary visual area. In this
area, there is interpretation of visual information that is received in primary visual area, interpreted in
secondary visual area further in angular gyrus and finally in Wernicke’s area.

Area of naming objects

Location – At junction of post-temporal cortex and anterior occipital cortex.
Naming of object mainly depends on auditory impulse. You hear worlds, details or texture of object
depends on visual inputs.
 Brain pathway for Speaking out Heard Words

Primary Auditory Area - receives the

heard question

Secondary Auditory Area

Wernicke's Area - complete understanding

of word, answer is decided, words are
chosen, words are arranged into sentences

Broca's Area - formation of pattern for

contortion of muscles of phonation and
articulation

Primary Motor Area - to initate muscle

contraction of speech

Brain Pathway for Speaking out Written Words