3. something inserted or to be inserted. 4. an extra leaf or section, as an advertisement, printed independently, for binding or tipping into a book or periodical. [1520â30; < Latin inserere to put in, insert =in- in-2 + serere to link together] inâ¢sertâ²aâ¢ble, adj.
Saliva is needed for the proper functioning of the tongue. A dry tongue can't taste a thing so saliva helps the tongue and our sense of taste by keeping it wet. Saliva moistens food and helps to break it down, which in turn makes it easier for the tongue to push the food to the back of the mouth for swallowing.
The tongue is the most important articulator of speech. This muscle is extremely strong, as it must move food around in our mouths as we chew. Its other biological function is to push the food into a bolus (I prefer the less scientific term glob), and then push it down the oesophagus to our stomach. Try swallowing to feel the strength of your tongue pushing down and back. Speech, on the other hand, requires a very different approach. For the sound to resonate effectively, the less tongue root tension (i.e. tension in the extrinsic muscles of the tongue), the better. For speech you want to relax the tongue up and forward, the opposite of swallowing.