The range of human speech is approximately between which frequencies?

The range of human speech falls predominantly between 250 Hz and 4000 Hz. This range encompasses the fundamental frequencies and harmonics crucial for understanding spoken language. Frequencies lower than 250 Hz generally correspond to the fundamental pitch of the voice, which, while important for tonal qualities, contributes less to the intelligibility of consonants and clarity of speech.

Conversely, frequencies above 4000 Hz, while they include some higher harmonics and contribute to the clarity of speech sounds, are less critical in the primary processing of everyday speech communication. This is because most of the phonetic information that contributes to speech recognition occurs within the specified range of 250 to 4000 Hz, allowing listeners to distinguish between different phonemes and comprehend language effectively. Thus, this range is essential for both the production and perception of speech, making the provided choice the most accurate in describing the frequencies associated with human speech.