Speech is the vocalized form of communication used by humans and some other animal species. The ability to produce speech is a characteristic that distinguishes humans from other animals. Speech production in human beings is a complex process involving the coordination of many different body parts. The brain controls the muscles of the mouth, throat, and lungs, which work together to produce sound.
The sounds produced by speech are made up of vowels and consonants. Vowels are created when air flows smoothly through the mouth without being blocked by any objects. Consonants are created when air flow is partially or fully obstructed by objects such as the tongue, teeth, or lips. The movement of these articulators creates turbulence in the airflow, which produces specific sounds.
Humans use speech to communicate with each other for a variety of purposes including: social interaction, emotional expression, conveying information, and persuasion. Speech can be categorized into two main types: verbal and nonverbal communication. Verbal communication uses spoken words to exchange information between individuals while nonverbal communication uses body language, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions to convey messages without using words. Each type of communication has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation in which it is used