CHAPTER ONE: THE SPEAKING AND HEARING PROCESS IN THE NATURAL

Sometimes...I take things for granted. There are hundreds...if not thousands of things that I do without even taking a second thought. Breathing for example...swallowing....hearing...moving... thinking...feeling...and speaking.

The speaking process is a synergistic exercise in the natural. Here is a thumbnail sketch of the speaking process:

(1) We think a thought. (2) We decided that we want to express that thought. The expression of the thought can be verbal or non-verbal. It can be anything from a look, a shift in body posture, written down in a graphic representation of the thought, signed with sign language, or spoken. (3) We then take in a breath (4) The flow of air starts by inhaling either through the nasal passage and/or mouth (5) Air flows to the level of the vocal folds (6) The vocal folds are then drawn together (by innervation and the Bernouli effect (like standing in a shower and the shower curtain is drawn to your leg) NOTE: The opening and closing of the vocal folds happens so quickly and so many times...that you cannot see it doing it with the naked eye. You can use what is called Videostroboscopy to see the intricate movement. (7) Air is drawn into your lungs and then released back out to the level of the closed vocal folds (8) The burst of air breaks apart the vocal folds and sets into vibration the air column creating a buzz/sound waves (9) Vibrating air columns travel through the resonating cavity (pharynx/throat, nasal cavity/nose, oral cavity/mouth (10) The articulators (teeth, lips, soft palate, tongue) forms various configurations of letters/words (11) We speak.

This is quite an intricate process from thought to word. We become a transmitter of thought...that seeks out a receiver. The receiver is the listener's ears...and not only the listener's ears...but also the the transmitter's ears...as they self-monitor what is being said.

The receiver is an equally fearfully and wonderfully made apperatus.

We have the collection of sound waves stuck on the side of our noggin. Also located in the noggin are sensory organs for balance. These collectors of sound are what we call our ears....however that is really a misnomer. The two things that we have on the side of our heads are called the pinna or the auricle. The are merely the entrance way of sound...on route to our hearing mechanism (however collectively all of the parts are considered the ear. It goes something like this:

(1) Sound is generated from the transmitter (2) The sound is collected at the pinna/auricle [the outer ear] (3) Sound travels down the external acoustic meatus (ear canal) (4) Sound hits the tympanic membrane (ear drum) [entrance into the middle ear (5) 3 bones are set into motion [the malleus/hammer, the incus/anvil , the stapus/stirrup] (6) The stapus/stirrup is fixed into a window of the inner ear/cochela (7) The mechanical movement of the 3 bones sets into motion fluid found in the snail like structure of the Cochlia (8) As the wave like motion travel through the inner ear...tiny hair like structures are snapped and spark an electrical impulse that goes to the brain via the 8th Cranial/Acoustic nerve. NOTE: All along the way of the cochia there are various frequencies of sound. (9) The various configurations of sounds are registered in the brain and decoded for us to understand words.

This ongoing process...this interaction...this communication process... this interpersonal communication relationship is going on constantly. We speak we hear. We take words...and come into an agreement about what they mean...and form what we call language. Communication consists of speaking, hearing, responding with semantics (word meaning), syntax (word order), pragmatics (appropriate use of semantic and syntax).

NOTE: This process of interaction of speaking and hearing is monitored by PROPRIOCEPTION. Proprioception is a term that includes two aspects that is manifested not only in speech and hearing but movement in general. It includes: (1) (a) kinesthesia [awarness of bodily movement and position] (b) taction [sense of touch or contact]. "Speech is presumably monitored through auditory and proprioceptive feedback."
(2) Sensory data from muscles, joints, or tendons
[Thanx and a tip O da hat to the Teminology of Communication Disorders Dictionary]

All of what we have said thus far is just the natural flow of what we don't even have to think about. The problem is... when these things are hindered by sickness and disease. The problems could range from cerumen (ear wax) blocking the sound waves to cancer of the larynx (lar-inks...not lar-nicks) to progressive neurological diseases (Parkinson's, ALS,. M.S.) to a CVA (cerebrovascular accident). Each one of these things is a study in itself and depending on where the problem occurs, how extensive the problem is will determine the type of therapy and the hope of recovery.

In the next chapter we will look at the spiritual aspect of the speaking and hearing process and the things that can hinder you speaking and hearing the Word of God. Jesus said at various times..."Let him who has ears to hear...hear." He was not talking about the collection of sounds and the physical hearing process...but He was talking about taking in information and dropping that information into our hearts and perceiving and understanding what is being said/spoken/heard.