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
Smiling helps to shorten the space between the voice box (larynx) and the lips. A shorter, smaller space reduces the amount of ‘echo’ in the voice which can lead to your voice sounding brighter and lighter.
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.
‘Giggling’ at the back of your throat can open and stiffen the spaces above your voice box and help create a brighter sound to your voice.
Activity to try:
Imagine you want to laugh at someone but you don’t want them to know. Stifle the giggle at the back of your mouth/in your throat-you well feel a widening in the areas above your voice box so the airflow vibrates cleanly through your throat in a brighter way and is not dampened. Use this ‘giggle’ position when you say the words ‘eye’ ‘air’ ‘ear’ ‘any’ ‘open’.
Exploring how your throat affects your voice
‘Giggling’ at the back of your throat can open and stiffen the spaces above your voice box and help create a brighter sound to your voice.
Activity to try:
Imagine you want to laugh at someone but you don’t want them to know. Stifle the giggle at the back of your mouth/in your throat-you well feel a widening in the areas above your voice box so the airflow vibrates cleanly through your throat in a brighter way and is not dampened. Use this ‘giggle’ position when you say the words ‘eye’ ‘air’ ‘ear’ ‘any’ ‘open’.
Exploring how your tongue affects your voice
Using light, quick tongue movements can create a gentle softness and preciseness to your speech. Placing your tongue slightly forward in your mouth when speaking can help create a feeling of brightness to your speech.
Activity to try:
Bring the tip of your tongue up so it is lightly touching behind your top teeth. Now try saying the days of the week keeping your tongue tip touching this area. See if you like the feeling this creates.
(Note: keeping your tongue forward can also help to raise the voice box.)
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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