Which aspect does the oral cavity NOT primarily contribute to in speech?

The oral cavity plays a critical role in various aspects of speech production, particularly in producing consonants and articulating vowels. When it comes to creating nasal sounds, this function is not primarily attributed to the oral cavity; rather, it involves the nasal cavity.

While the oral cavity is instrumental in shaping resonance and modifying the sound produced by the vocal cords, nasal sounds are produced when airflow is directed through the nose rather than the mouth. This process requires the lowering of the soft palate (velum), which allows sound to resonate in the nasal cavities. In contrast, consonants and vowels are articulated by manipulating the positioning of the tongue, lips, and jaw within the oral cavity.

Therefore, the oral cavity does not significantly contribute to the production of nasal sounds as this is a function of the nasal cavity itself, making this the correct choice. Understanding the specific anatomical contributions to speech production is essential for clarifying how different speech sounds are formed.