The larynx makes the sound; the mouth filters it
Air from the lungs sets the vocal folds in the larynx vibrating. That vibration supplies a basic sound, but it is not yet the voice people recognize. As the sound travels upward through the throat and mouth, those spaces reinforce some frequencies and soften others. This filtering gives vowels much of their distinctive tone, or resonance.
Where the bite comes in
A bite is the way the upper and lower teeth meet. Their relationship can affect how the jaw rests and how much room the tongue has to move. The jaw, tongue, lips, and soft palate all help reshape the vocal tract—the passage from the larynx to the mouth or nose. Even a small change in that passage can shift resonance, much as changing the shape of a musical instrument changes the sound it produces.
The effect is not simply that one bite creates one particular voice. People can compensate: the tongue and lips adjust while speaking, and the larynx can vary pitch and vocal-fold tension. That is why changes in jaw position may be especially noticeable on certain vowels or sounds, rather than making every word sound different.
A difference listeners may notice
Speech and singing both depend on finely coordinated mouth movements. If the bite or jaw position changes, a speaker may need to adjust familiar movements to produce the same vowels clearly; the resulting shift in resonance can also alter the voice’s perceived color. The voice is produced at the larynx, but its final tone is shaped along the route out.
