|
Time for Talk
Your lungs are important
for breathing . . . and also for talking! Above the trachea (windpipe) is
the larynx (say: larr-inks), which is sometimes called the
voice box. Across the voice box are two tiny ridges called vocal
cords, which open and close to make sounds. When you exhale air from
the lungs, it comes through the trachea and larynx and reaches the vocal
cords. If the vocal cords are closed and the air flows between them, the
vocal cords vibrate and a sound is made.
The amount of air you blow out from your lungs determines how loud a
sound will be and how long you can make the sound. Try inhaling very
deeply and saying the names of all the kids in your class - how far can
you get without taking the next breath? The next time you're outside, try
shouting and see what happens - shouting requires lots of air, so you'll
need to breathe in more frequently than you would if you were only saying
the words. Experiment with different sounds and the air it takes to make
them: when you giggle, you let out your breath in short bits, but when you
burp, you let swallowed air in your stomach out in one long one! When you
hiccup, it's because the
diaphragm moves in a funny way that causes you to breathe in air suddenly,
and that air hits your vocal cords when you're not ready.
|
