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The tongue is the most important articulator of speech. This muscle is extremely strong, as it must move food around in our mouths as we chew. Its other biological function is to push the food into a bolus (I prefer the less scientific term "glob"), and then push it down the oesophagus to our stomach. Try swallowing to feel the strength of your tongue pushing down and back. Speech, on the other hand, requires a very different approach. For the sound to resonate effectively, the less tongue root tension (i.e. tension in the extrinsic muscles of the tongue), the better. For speech you want to relax the tongue up and forward, the opposite of swallowing. The quick movements of the tongue, necessary for rapid delivery of tongue twisters for example, require very delicate control of the action of the tongue. This control is often best regulated in concert with the ear, listening to the sounds created by the voice when the tongue is in one position over another. Sensitivity is the key to learning to appreciate the range of capabilities the tongue possesses.
Tip, front edge, blade, middle, back of tongue
Median fibrous septum
Tip:
Front edge:
Blade:
Middle:
Back:
the surface of the tongue begins to change here; awareness is important for certain back vowels
Median Fibrous Septum: Medianibrous Septum:
Intrinsic Muscles of the Tongue:
Inferior and Superior Longitudinal Muscle:
Transverse Muscle:
Vertical Muscle:
Extrinsic Muscles:
Genioglossus: chin to tongue
Styloglossus: styloid process behind ear to tongue
Palatoglossus: palate to tongue
Hyoglossus:hyoid bone to tongue