What does the term "articulation" refer to?

The term "articulation" specifically refers to the physical ability to produce speech sounds. This encompasses the precise movement and coordination of the speech organs, including the tongue, lips, palate, and vocal cords, to create the sounds that form words. Clear articulation is essential for effective communication, as it directly impacts how well speech is understood by others.

Meanwhile, the other options reflect different aspects of language and communication. For instance, writing effectively pertains to written language skills, cognitive processing of language relates to understanding and producing language in the mind, and the use of language in social settings refers to pragmatics, which involves how language is applied in social contexts. These areas, while important for overall communication, do not define articulation, which is exclusively about the physical production of speech sounds.