One easy way to understand speech s

One easy way to understand speech sounds is to track a glob of airthrough the vocal tract into the world, starting in the lungs.When we talk, we depart from our usual rhythmic breathing andtake in quick breaths of air, then release them steadily, using themuscles of the ribs to counteract the elastic recoil force of the lungs.(If we did not, our speech would sound like the pathetic whine of areleased balloon.) Syntax overrides carbon dioxide: we suppress thedelicately tuned feedback loop that controls our breathing rate toregulate oxygen intake, and instead we time our exhalations to thelength of the phrase or sentence we intend to utter. This can lead tomild hyperventilation or hypoxia, which is why public speaking is soexhausting and why it is difficult to carry on a conversation with ajogging partner.