Which subsystem of speech pertains to the flow of air from the lungs?

• A. Phonation
• B. Respiration
• C. Articulation
• D. Prosody

Answer: (B)

The airflow from the lungs is governed by respiration, the subsystem that provides the breath needed for speech. Respiration supplies the airstream and subglottal pressure that energize all subsequent stages of speech, including phonation, articulation, and prosody. Phonation is about the vocal folds vibrating to produce sound, which depends on the air supplied by respiration but is a distinct process from the actual flow of air. Articulation involves shaping that sound with the tongue, lips, and other articulators, while prosody concerns rhythm, intonation, and stress across speech. So the term that specifically refers to the flow of air from the lungs is respiration.