Could we still speak if we didn’t have a uvula?

Question: Could we still speak if we didn't have a uvula?
- Keywords:
  speak,
  speech,
  uvula
Asked by camswallace to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 13 Nov 2015.
- Richard Unwin answered on 13 Nov 2015:
  
  As far as we’re aware, human are the only animals with an uvula and the only ones who speak, so it could be important in speaking. However, doctors can remove the uvula as a treatment for really bad snoring (so bad it keeps you awake all night and stops you breathing, bad) and it does change the way people sound, although they can still speak.

Question: Could we still speak if we didn't have a uvula?