Question

Which organ is responsible for producing nasal sounds?

• A. Vocal cords
• B. Hard palate
• C. Nose and nasal cavity
• D. Uvula

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Nose and nasal cavity

Understanding Nasal Sounds in Phonology

• Nasal Sounds Explained: Nasal sounds are a type of consonant produced when the air stream escapes through the nasal cavity (nose) rather than, or in addition to, the oral cavity (mouth).
• Role of the Velum (Soft Palate): The crucial mechanism for producing nasal sounds involves the velum, also known as the soft palate. During the production of nasal sounds, the velum is lowered.
• Mechanism of Airflow: When the velum is lowered, it creates an opening between the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. This allows air from the lungs to pass through the pharynx and then directly into the nasal cavity, exiting through the nostrils.
• Contrast with Oral Sounds: For oral sounds (most consonants and all vowels), the velum is raised, sealing off the nasal cavity and directing all airflow out through the mouth. This velic closure is essential for non-nasal speech.

Key English Nasal Consonants and their Articulation

• English has three common nasal consonants:
1. /m/ (Bilabial Nasal): Produced by closing both lips while the velum is lowered (e.g., 'm' in man). The airflow is blocked in the oral cavity but escapes through the nose.
2. /n/ (Alveolar Nasal): Produced by placing the tongue tip or blade against the alveolar ridge (the ridge behind your upper front teeth) while the velum is lowered (e.g., 'n' in no).
3. /ŋ/ (Velar Nasal): Produced by raising the back of the tongue towards the velum (soft palate) while the velum is lowered (e.g., 'ng' in sing). This sound does not occur at the beginning of English words.

Further Phonological Concepts

• Place of Articulation: While all nasal sounds share the characteristic of nasal airflow, their place of articulation (where the oral obstruction occurs) can vary, as seen with /m/, /n/, and /ŋ/.
• Manner of Articulation: Nasals are often classified as nasal stops or nasal continuants because the oral tract is completely obstructed (like a stop), but the sound can be prolonged through the nasal passage (like a continuant).
• Velopharyngeal Port: The opening between the oral and nasal cavities controlled by the velum is known as the velopharyngeal port. Its opening or closing determines whether a sound is nasal or oral.
• Relevance in Phonetics: Understanding the role of the nose and nasal cavity is fundamental in articulatory phonetics, the study of how speech sounds are produced by the human vocal apparatus.