Coarticulation

Coarticulation refers to the idea that fluent speech requires context-dependent coordination of multiple speech articulators. Unlike printed letters in writing, there are no spaces between speech sounds. Producing speech is like cursive handwriting. Individual speech sounds are connected to one another through continuous movement of the speech articulators. Research on coarticulation examines the extent to which coarticulation is the result of physical necessity or part of an individual’s knowledge of his or her language. The study of coarticulation also provides insight into how speech is planned, how speech planning develops as children learn to talk, and how speech planning may break down in cases of speech disorder.