AIRSTREAM MECHANISM Meaning and
Definition
-
The airstream mechanism refers to the process by which air is expelled or manipulated in the production of speech sounds. It describes how the airflow from the lungs is modified by various structures within the vocal tract to generate the desired sound. This mechanism is a crucial aspect of phonetics, as it helps determine the production of different speech sounds, including consonants and vowels.
This mechanism involves the initiation and control of the airstream, the movement of air through specific articulatory organs, and the resulting sound produced. The three main types of airstream mechanisms are pulmonic, glottalic, and velaric.
In the pulmonic mechanism, which is the most common type, air is expelled through the lungs using the respiratory muscles. This airstream is then manipulated by the vocal tract, including the larynx, pharynx, oral and nasal cavities, tongue, and lips, to create different sounds.
The glottalic mechanism involves the movement of the vocal folds or glottis, which control the airflow during speech production. This mechanism is found in some languages and is particularly important in the production of ejective and implosive sounds.
The velaric mechanism, often used in click sounds, utilizes the back of the tongue and the velum to create a vacuum or closure in the oral cavity, which is then released to produce a sound.
Understanding the airstream mechanism is essential for studying and classifying speech sounds and for determining the manner and place of articulation of different phonemes in various languages.
Etymology of AIRSTREAM MECHANISM
The term "airstream mechanism" is composed of two distinct words: "airstream" and "mechanism".
- "Airstream" refers to the flow of air, specifically the movement or current of air in a specific direction. It originates from the combination of the words "air", referring to the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the Earth, and "stream", meaning a continuous flow or current. The term was adapted from the Middle English word "streem" and Old English word "strēam".
- "Mechanism" refers to a system or process designed to perform a specific function or achieve a particular result. It comes from the Latin word "mechanismus" or the Greek word "mechanē".
