Which of the following is a characteristic of speech breathing?

The characteristic of speech breathing that is accurately captured in the context of the chosen answer is that expiration lasts much longer than inspiration. When producing speech, individuals typically engage in a controlled, extended expiration phase to allow for the steady flow of air necessary for vocalization. This extended expiration provides the speaker with the required airflow and pressure to generate voice and articulate phonemes clearly.

In contrast, during natural, relaxed breathing (also known as tidal breathing), the duration of inspiration and expiration is roughly equal, and the breaths are taken more rapidly without the need for prolonged control. Therefore, speech breathing is distinctly characterized by the longer duration of expiration compared to inspiration, which facilitates sustained speech.

The other options describe aspects of breathing that do not accurately reflect the characteristics of speech breathing. For example, taking a breath in slowly and steadily can occur during both speech and quiet breathing, but it does not specifically define the speech breathing process. Similarly, breathing through the nose is common in many instances but is not a requirement for producing speech, which often involves oral breathing. Lastly, stating that inspiration requires no muscular effort is misleading, as inspiration typically involves muscular contractions (e.g., the diaphragm and intercostal muscles) regardless of whether it is for speech or relaxed breathing.