What does "place of articulation" refer to in speech?

"Place of articulation" refers to the specific location within the vocal tract where the airflow is constricted to produce different speech sounds. This can occur at various points such as the lips (which produce bilabial sounds), the alveolar ridge (which produces alveolar sounds), or the velum (which produces velar sounds), among other areas. Different places of articulation result in distinct phonetic sounds, which are recognized as different consonants and vowels in language.

For instance, the sounds "b" and "p" are produced at the same place of articulation (the lips) but differ in voicing; "b" is voiced while "p" is voiceless. Understanding this concept is fundamental in phonetics and speech science as it helps delineate how different sounds are formed and how they contribute to speech production.

The other options focus on different aspects of speech sounds that do not pertain to the specific point of constriction in the vocal tract. The speed of airflow, pitch, and volume relate to the qualities of the sounds being produced but do not define where in the vocal tract these sounds are articulated.