Comparatively little is known about the role that the velocity profiles of different articulatory movements play in speech production. Using 3D Electromagnetic Articulography, the present experiment analyzes articulatory data from Moroccan Arabic for independent influences of oral articulator and manner on stiffness, which is an important aspect of the velocity profile of articulator movement. Tongue back movements were found to have lower stiffness than those of the tongue tip or lower lip. No differences based on manner were found. Relevance to phonetics and phonology is discussed.