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From thinking to language: How do humans make speech?
Speech is an important tool used by humans to convey thoughts and emotions. Language is converted into sound through the joint operation of the throat, tongue and lips. Whether used to inform, request, or express emotion, the sophistication of voice technology allows us to communicate effectively with others. What mysterious processes are hidden behind all these operations?
Speech is the medium of language conveyed through the human voice.
The evolution of speech
The evolution of human speech has always been a hot topic of scientific research. Although closely related to the origins of language, the unique human ability of speech is academically regarded as an independent field of study. The special features of the human vocal tract structure and respiratory system enable them to make unique sounds, which is significantly different from other non-human animals.
Humans use movable parts such as the tongue and lips to produce sounds, making the evolution of speech a fascinating theoretical challenge.
The process of speech production
Speech production is an automated, multi-step process. Thoughts are first formed in the subconscious mind, then appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures are selected, and finally they are expressed through the operation of the mouth. The study of phonetics focuses on how the organs of speech - such as the tongue, lips and throat - work together to produce sound. The generation of these phonemes is an important part of the language expression process.
Speech Understanding
The process of speech comprehension is closely related to the acoustic properties and neuropsychology of language. Human speech recognition ability allows us to understand the content of a conversation even in the presence of background noise. Research has found that speech recognition is categorical in nature, and humans tend to rely on different features of speech to classify sounds.
The recognition of words is closely related to their unique pronunciation characteristics, and listeners will classify the sounds they hear rather than viewing them as a spectrum.
Speech Development and Learning
Most children usually begin to produce "phonetic consonants" between four and six months of age and learn their first words within the first year. As their language develops, children gradually expand their vocabulary through repeated use of words they hear. This process is closely related to the development of their language ability in the future.
Factors that influence speech problems
Speech production and comprehension can be influenced by a variety of organic and psychological factors. For example, diseases of the lungs or vocal cords, hearing problems, and psychological conditions can all lead to problems with speech expression. The influence of these factors may cause listeners to have difficulty in understanding or producing words, which in turn affects the quality of daily communication.
Many medical conditions and psychological factors, such as speech disorders, can directly affect the quality and fluency of speech.
Treatment and improvement strategies
For people with speech problems, the intervention of a speech therapist is necessary. They will assess and diagnose based on individual needs and pathological conditions, and then develop targeted treatment plans. In this way, people can not only improve their language expression skills, but also regain their confidence in communication.
Brain-speech connection
Modern research has confirmed that speech comprehension and production involve multiple brain areas, especially Broca's area and Wernicke's area. Damage to these areas can affect speech fluency and comprehension. As research deepens, scientists will gain a deeper understanding of these activities.
When it comes to these various aspects of human speech, how this complex system works makes us wonder: in the future, as technology advances, will there be greater changes in the expression and understanding of speech?
