The lungs are an organ in human physiology that is instrumental in the production of speech as a secondary function, their primary funtion being the vital funtion of breathing and providing oxygen to the body.

In the production of speech, the lungs are instrumental in the production of:

• the pulmonic airstream ( airstream coming from the lungs )
• egressive sounds: speech sounds produced by means of air streaming from the lungs escaping through the oral cavity / English speech sounds are egressive sounds
• ingressive sounds: speech sounds produced by sucking in air