Speech Sounds
Speech sounds are the basic building blocks of spoken language, consisting of individual units like consonants and vowels. In language acquisition, children learn to recognize, produce, and combine these sounds to form words. This process begins early, as infants listen to the sounds around them and start to mimic them. Mastering speech sounds is crucial for effective communication and forms the foundation for developing vocabulary and grammar. Understanding and producing these sounds accurately allows individuals to express themselves and understand others in their language.
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Speech sounds are the basic units of oral communication, produced when air flows from the lungs through the vocal tract and is shaped by the mouth, tongue, and lips. These sounds can be categorized into consonants and vowels, which combine to form words. Each sound is defined by its unique features, such as how it is produced (voiced or voiceless) and where it occurs in the mouth. Understanding speech sounds is essential for language learning, effective communication, and speech therapy, as they form the foundation of spoken language.