The sense of touch also plays an important role in speech production
The sense of touch also plays an important role in speech production.
For one thing, it informs us where the tongue is in the mouth (which helps to keep it out of harms way as the teeth do their chopping and tearing thing).
The sense of touch helps to let the brain know how the rapid, precise and ballistic movements of speech are progressing. This keeps the movements flowing.
Most of us have experienced the impact of the loss of the sense of touch on speech. After a few shots of novocaine from a friendly dentist, one may have noticed that speech becomes rather slushy and labored.
On a phenomenological note, I can't help noticing the special role that touch has for us when we really want connect with another human- being. It's the ultimate choice.