Acoustic Phonetics - Key concepts Flashcards
what characterizes the presence of the vowel sound on a spectrogram?
[ə ]
( schwa )
state the vowel sound matching this characterization?
its acoustic interval (duration) is short relative to other vowel sounds
how do the following pair differ in how they are perceived by humans?
- consonants
vs
- vowels
state the contrasting pair of speech sounds described:
1. are perceived categorically
- differing VOT intervals make up exclusive categories through which the sounds are distinguished.
2. are perceived on a continuum/non-abrupt
- as the formant frequencies, defining the sound, change, the perceptual quality also change.
(p. 99 AM 2014)
Which concept is this the description of?
the temporal relationship
between onset of voicing & release of the articulators
( 2004 exam solution-sheet )
what relationship does the concept describe?
VOT( voice-onset-time )
What subgroup of speech sounds is associated with the listed possible effects on VOT?
voicing coincides with the release = short voicing lag
or
voicing begins prior to release = negative VOT
(p. 97 AM 2014)
How do the members of the following group of speech sounds affect the VOT measure?
voiced stops
Define the concept:
vowel normalization
state the concept described:
**the ability of recognizing and normalizing vowel frequencies across different speakers - despite acoustic differences. **
children and adults typically produce the same vowels at different frequencies, therefore this phenomenon is indispensable to speech perception.
(p. 89-91 AM 2014)
state the concept described:
**the ability of recognizing and normalizing vowel frequencies across different speakers - despite acoustic differences. **
children and adults typically produce the same vowels at different frequencies, therefore this phenomenon is indispensable to speech perception.
(p. 89-91 AM 2014)
Define the concept:
vowel normalization
which type of speech sound is this a description of?
the filters (active articulators)
produce amplitude peaks at certain frequencies of the harmonics while muffling other frequencies.
( p. 67 in AM 2014)
Relating to the acoustic feature of speech sound production, how is this type of speech sound produced:
Vowels
in a spectrogram reading, what group of speech sounds is qualified by the following?
a blank space
+
possible aspiration
air rushing out of the mouth after the release of the articulators
( p. 71 AM 2014)
how can we detect the following group of sounds in a spectrogram reading?
voiceless stops
to which two groups of speech sounds do the following contrasting descriptions apply?
- This group is produced with stable vocal tract configuration = there is no change in formant frequencies in the interval of the sound.
- This group is produced by the articulators enforcing a change in the vocal tract configuration = change (upward or downward) in the frequency of at least one formant during the sound interval.
what is the articulatory and acoustic difference between:
- monophthongs
and
- diphthongs
What concept entails the following?
- A native speaker will identify stimuli from a VOT continuum as belonging to one of two possible categories
- Distinctions within in a category are ignored
- The peak of discrimination is aligned with category boundary
Example:
‘Final voicing contrast’ in English and the lack there of in Danish.
( Mock final answer-sheet + 2004 exam solution-sheet)
Define the concept:
Categorical perception
Bonus: give an example of CP
what do you call the type of graphic representation from which you can extract the following information:
- Duration of acoustic input:
measured in milliseconds on the x-axis
- Amplitude of acoustic input:
represented by a grey scale
(the darker the area is the higher the input)
- Frequency of acoustic input:
measured in Hz on the y-axis
( mock final answer-sheet)
What information is available in:
spectograms
According to the patterns in a spectrogram analysis of speech sounds, what are the following sounds associated with?
stop consonants
In relation to spectrogram analysis of speech sounds what subgroup of sounds are detected by the following?
a blank space on the spectrogram
indicating a complete block of the air stream
(p. 70 AM 2014 )
how can we detect the following group of sounds in a spectrogram reading?
affricates
(stop + fricative)
in a spectrogram reading, what group of speech sounds is qualified by the following?
a blank space = indicating the initial closure
followed by
aperiodicity = unrecognizable TV static pattern.
state the two types of components in:
a complex sound wave:
what acoustic entity is comprised of the following?
a fundamental frequency (pitch)
+
a set of harmonics
repeating at frequencies which are multiples of the fundamental frequency
(p. 67 AM 2014)
Relating to the acoustic feature of speech sound production, how is this type of speech sound produced:
Vowels
which type of speech sound is this a description of?
the filters (active articulators)
produce amplitude peaks at certain frequencies of the harmonics while muffling other frequencies.
( p. 67 in AM 2014)
According to the patterns in a spectrogram analysis of speech sounds, what are the following sounds associated with?
fricatives
In relation to spectrogram analysis of speech sounds what subgroup of sounds are detected by the following?
Turbulence = static on a Tv-screen
+
No recognizable pattern
The acoustic source of this sound is the aperiodic turbulence of the air rushing through a small opening
( p. 73 AM 2014)
state the name of the subgroup of speech sounds that characterized by:
the sounds will be accompanied by
a gap in the display
(lack of acoustic input)
+
a dark band of energy at the bottom of the spectrogram indicating that the vocal folds are vibrating during the closure
( p. 70 - 71 AM 2014 )
what signifies the following subgroup of speech sounds in a spectrogram rendering of the acoustic input?
Voiced stops
what signifies the following subgroup of speech sounds in a spectrogram rendering of the acoustic input?
Voiced stops
state the name of the subgroup of speech sounds that characterized by:
the sounds will be accompanied by
a gap in the display
(lack of acoustic input)
+
a dark band of energy at the bottom of the spectrogram indicating that the vocal folds are vibrating during the closure
( p. 70 - 71 AM 2014 )
in a spectrogram reading, what group of speech sounds is qualified by the following?
a blank space = indicating the initial closure
followed by
aperiodicity = unrecognizable TV static pattern.
how can we detect the following group of sounds in a spectrogram reading?
affricates
(stop + fricative)
state the concept described:
It renders an acoustic recording
of the voicing of a speech sound
+
it is located at the bottom of spectrogram
(p. 77 AM 2014)
describe the concept:
voice bar
What subgroup of speech sounds is associated with the listed possible effects on VOT?
the release coincides with onset of voicing
or
aspiration, succeeding the release, delays onset of voicing
( p. 83 AM 2014)
state possible ways in which VOT may be affected by this type of speech sound?
voiceless stops
what acoustic entity is comprised of the following?
a fundamental frequency (pitch)
+
a set of harmonics
repeating at frequencies which are multiples of the fundamental frequency
(p. 67 AM 2014)
state the two types of components in:
a complex sound wave:
state the concept described:
it represents one of the means of coping with the enormous amount of variation between different productions of the same sound typically found in human speech
and
without it, we would only perceive
a “blooming, buzzing confusion” (William James)
( p. 100 AM 2014 and p. 4 Lecture 11 handout )
why is the following concept indispensable to language perception:
Categorical perception
state possible ways in which VOT may be affected by this type of speech sound?
voiceless stops
What subgroup of speech sounds is associated with the listed possible effects on VOT?
the release coincides with onset of voicing
or
aspiration, succeeding the release, delays onset of voicing
( p. 83 AM 2014)
state the contrasting pair of speech sounds described:
1. are perceived categorically
- differing VOT intervals make up exclusive categories through which the sounds are distinguished.
2. are perceived on a continuum/non-abrupt
- as the formant frequencies, defining the sound, change, the perceptual quality also change.
(p. 99 AM 2014)
how do the following pair differ in how they are perceived by humans?
- consonants
vs
- vowels
what relationship does the concept describe?
VOT( voice-onset-time )
Which concept is this the description of?
the temporal relationship
between onset of voicing & release of the articulators
( 2004 exam solution-sheet )
What do formants tell us about the following phenomenon?
vowel articulation
what group of speech sounds is the following a description of?
F1: is relatated to tongue hight
high/close vowels have low F1
Low/open vowels have high F1
F2: is related to backness
back vowels have low F2
Front vowels have high F2
(p. 34 Lecture 10 handout)
how can we detect the following group of sounds in a spectrogram reading?
voiceless stops
in a spectrogram reading, what group of speech sounds is qualified by the following?
a blank space
+
possible aspiration
air rushing out of the mouth after the release of the articulators
( p. 71 AM 2014)
Define the concept:
Categorical perception
Bonus: give an example of CP
What concept entails the following?
- A native speaker will identify stimuli from a VOT continuum as belonging to one of two possible categories
- Distinctions within in a category are ignored
- The peak of discrimination is aligned with category boundary
Example:
‘Final voicing contrast’ in English and the lack there of in Danish.
( Mock final answer-sheet + 2004 exam solution-sheet)
define the concept:
fundamental frequency
state the concept fitting this description:
It is the fundamental sound wave (pitch) which repeats itself at the frequency of the opening and closing of the vocal folds.
e.g
if the vocal folds open and close at a rate of 100 hertz(cycles/second) = the resulting ‘pitch’ wave is 100 hertz.
( p . 67 AM 2014)
What information is available in:
spectograms
what do you call the type of graphic representation from which you can extract the following information:
- Duration of acoustic input:
measured in milliseconds on the x-axis
- Amplitude of acoustic input:
represented by a grey scale
(the darker the area is the higher the input)
- Frequency of acoustic input:
measured in Hz on the y-axis
( mock final answer-sheet)
what is the articulatory and acoustic difference between:
- monophthongs
and
- diphthongs
to which two groups of speech sounds do the following contrasting descriptions apply?
- This group is produced with stable vocal tract configuration = there is no change in formant frequencies in the interval of the sound.
- This group is produced by the articulators enforcing a change in the vocal tract configuration = change (upward or downward) in the frequency of at least one formant during the sound interval.
How do the members of the following group of speech sounds affect the VOT measure?
voiced stops
What subgroup of speech sounds is associated with the listed possible effects on VOT?
voicing coincides with the release = short voicing lag
or
voicing begins prior to release = negative VOT
(p. 97 AM 2014)
state the vowel sound matching this characterization?
its acoustic interval (duration) is short relative to other vowel sounds
what characterizes the presence of the vowel sound on a spectrogram?
[ə ]
( schwa )
In relation to spectrogram analysis of speech sounds what subgroup of sounds are detected by the following?
a blank space on the spectrogram
indicating a complete block of the air stream
(p. 70 AM 2014 )
According to the patterns in a spectrogram analysis of speech sounds, what are the following sounds associated with?
stop consonants
In relation to spectrogram analysis of speech sounds what subgroup of sounds are detected by the following?
Turbulence = static on a Tv-screen
+
No recognizable pattern
The acoustic source of this sound is the aperiodic turbulence of the air rushing through a small opening
( p. 73 AM 2014)
According to the patterns in a spectrogram analysis of speech sounds, what are the following sounds associated with?
fricatives
Describe the following term:
Formants:
state the concept described:
The resonant frequencies
of the vocal tract
(‘the formants represent enhanced bands of energy at particular frequencies’)
(p. 67 - 69 in AM 2014)
state the concept described:
The resonant frequencies
of the vocal tract
(‘the formants represent enhanced bands of energy at particular frequencies’)
(p. 67 - 69 in AM 2014)
Describe the following term:
Formants:
state the concept fitting this description:
It is the fundamental sound wave (pitch) which repeats itself at the frequency of the opening and closing of the vocal folds.
e.g
if the vocal folds open and close at a rate of 100 hertz(cycles/second) = the resulting ‘pitch’ wave is 100 hertz.
( p . 67 AM 2014)
define the concept:
fundamental frequency
describe the concept:
voice bar
state the concept described:
It renders an acoustic recording
of the voicing of a speech sound
+
it is located at the bottom of spectrogram
(p. 77 AM 2014)
what group of speech sounds is the following a description of?
F1: is relatated to tongue hight
high/close vowels have low F1
Low/open vowels have high F1
F2: is related to backness
back vowels have low F2
Front vowels have high F2
(p. 34 Lecture 10 handout)
What do formants tell us about the following phenomenon?
vowel articulation
why is the following concept indispensable to language perception:
Categorical perception
state the concept described:
it represents one of the means of coping with the enormous amount of variation between different productions of the same sound typically found in human speech
and
without it, we would only perceive
a “blooming, buzzing confusion” (William James)
( p. 100 AM 2014 and p. 4 Lecture 11 handout )
