Articulators in phonetics refer to the various parts of the vocal tract that are involved in the production of speech sounds. They play a crucial role in shaping the sounds we produce when we speak.
There are two main types of articulators: active and passive. Active articulators are those that can move during speech to create sounds, such as the tongue and lips. On the other hand, passive articulators are fixed and provide a surface that active articulators can interact with. Examples of passive articulators include the hard palate, soft palate, and teeth.
When we produce speech, the coordination between these articulators allows us to create a range of sounds. For instance, when the tongue tip touches the alveolar ridge (just behind the upper front teeth), it produces sounds like /t/ and /d/. Understanding how these articulators work together is essential for the study of phonetics and phonology, helping linguists analyze and classify the various speech sounds found in different languages.