Articulation

What is articulation?

Articulation is the production of speech sounds. Normal articulation of sounds is a sequence of complex actions. Accurate articulation requires exact placement, sequencing, timing, direction and force of articulators. Speech is what an individual does to produce sounds. The sound pattern of language that is described as "speech" is made up of a combination of sounds that form words. The development of speech requires the growth and motor control of the child's lips, jaw, teeth, tongue, the hard palate, and the soft palate, the child's ability to hear and distinguish sounds and the child's appropriate cognitive development. The development of correct articulation is a gradual process that begins in infancy and continues through until a child's seventh or eight year. Following is a chart which shows the ages at which 90% of boys and girls can articulate the English consonants correctly.

A speech disorder occurs when a person substitutes, omits, distorts, or adds sounds to words which results in less clear, or unintelligible speech.