The Dorsum of the Tongue is what many perceive as the middle and back of the tongue; it is the back part of the tongue that is visible in the mouth and sits above the root of the tongue. The Dorsum of the Tongue is important in the creation of vowel and consonants as well as serving a critical role in swallowing. The height of the dorsum is directly related to the frequency of the second formant; the higher the dorsum the higher the second formant and vice versa.
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