In phonetics, the airstream mechanism is the method by which airflow is created in the vocal tract. Along with phonation, it is one of two mandatory aspects of sound production; without these, there can be no speech sound.
The organ generating the airstream is called the initiator; for this reason the production of airflow is called initiation. There are three initiators used in spoken human languages:
- the diaphragm together with the ribs and lungs (pulmonic mechanisms),
- the glottis (glottalic mechanisms), and
- the tongue (lingual or "velaric" mechanisms).
Read more about Airstream Mechanism: Types of Airstream Mechanism, Pulmonic Initiation, Glottalic Initiation, Lingual (velaric) Initiation, Airstream Contours
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