Which structures are primarily associated with articulation in speech?

The structures that are primarily associated with articulation in speech include the lips, tongue, and mandible (jaw). These components play a crucial role in shaping the sounds produced during speech.

The lips are essential for producing bilabial sounds, such as "p" and "b," as they need to come together and release to form these sounds. The tongue is incredibly versatile and engages in various movements to create different speech sounds, impacting numerous phonemes in English and other languages. The mandible provides the necessary movement and space for the tongue to articulate sounds properly, allowing it to rise, lower, and contact different parts of the oral cavity effectively.

While other structures mentioned in the other options may contribute to speech production, they are not primarily responsible for articulation. For instance, the vocal cords are essential for phonation—the act of producing sound. The pharynx plays a role in resonance, and the nasal cavity can affect the quality of sound in nasal consonants. However, the crucial movement and contact needed for articulation rely heavily on the lips, tongue, and jaw, making the first option the most accurate representation for articulation in speech.