Speech and Language Therapy
Date of issue: November 2023
Date reviewed: xxx
Review due: xxx
If review date has passed, the content will apply until the next version is published.
Shaping your articulation
There are a few ways in which you can change the shape of the spaces in your mouth and throat which may help you to feel your voice/speech better represents you. Please try some of these activities/suggestions and see if you can shape your voice/speech into something that feels good for you.
What do we mean by articulation?
Articulation is how we describe the movement of your oral structures during speech (e.g. lips, tongue, jaw, teeth, palate, and throat).
Exploring how your lips affect your voice
Reducing the amount of facial expression you use, especially smiling, can be linked to a darkening or lowering of the voice. This is because there is more space within the mouth and throat for the sound to ‘echo’.
Activity to try:
Start to increase the amount you smile at people when speaking with them. See how this makes you feel, and see what change it makes to your voice.
Exploring how your throat affects your voice
Your throat is just above your voice box and can change the way your voice vibrates as it travels up towards your mouth and nose.
A wider, lowered throat position can help lower the sound of your voice as it increases the area for vibration of the sound. Lowering your voice box and the back of the tongue can create a lower sound.
Activity to try:
Pretend to yawn and see how it lowers your tongue and throat. Use this ‘pretend yawn’ at the start of these words ‘any’ ‘also’ ‘arm’ ‘apple’ to see if you like the lowered sound it creates. This has also lowered your resonance.
Exploring how your tongue affects your voice
A flatter and lower tongue shape can lower and darken the sound and feel of your voice.
Activity to try:
Produce a long low ‘ah’ sound. You should feel the back of your tongue lowering. Then, try saying the days of the week with your tongue in this lowered position.
(Note: lowering your tongue also lowers the voice box and can lower pitch and resonance.)
Accessible formats
If you require this information in a community language or alternative format e.g. Braille, audio, large print, BSL, Easy Read please contact the Equality and Human Rights Team at: email: fife.EqualityandHumanRights@nhs.scot or phone 01592 729130. For people with a hearing or verbal impairment you can also contact the team via the NHS Fife SMS text service number on 07805800005.
You can also find health related information on many topics in an Easy Read format on nhsinform.scot.
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