Articulatory System: Observation and Measurement

Question 1

Acoustic assessment: Spectrograms

Answer 1

Provides pictorial representation of speech acoustics in terms of duration, Hz, and intensity

Question 2

Spectrogram interpretation

Answer 2

Source filter theory provides clues on how to interpret spectrograms and speech sounds

Question 3

Spectrogram: glottal souce

Answer 3

If source is VOICED, dark band along x-axis

If source is VOICELESS, no dark band along x-axis

Question 4

Spectrograms: Formants and antigormants

Answer 4

Formants appear as dark vertical bands because there were highlighted Hz

Anti-formants are dark, low HZ bands that appear much less intense

Question 5

Spectrograms: fricatives

Answer 5

Turbulence appears as dark sheet of sound spread across many Hz: noise

Question 6

Spectrograms: Stops

Answer 6

Occlusion and release appears as silence followed by turbulence (aspiration)
If voiced, will appear in the occlusion period

Question 7

Spectrograms: vowels

Answer 7

Always voiced glottal source with distinct formants as dark vertical bands

Question 8

Spectrograms: Dipthongs

Answer 8

Change in formants over time due to vocal tract changing, see the bending of formants

Question 9

Spectrograms: semi-vowels

Answer 9

LIquids and glides
Appears similar to vowels but made with greater vocal tract restriction than vowels

Question 10

Kinematic assessment

Answer 10

X-ray imaging (Cinefluorography)
MRI
Ultrasound
Electropalatography

Question 11

X-ray imaging

Answer 11

Based on electromagnetic radiation to provide lateral still image of vocal tract
Most useful for relative position of structures during sustained speech sounds

Question 12

X-ray imaging: Cinefluorography

Answer 12

Provides x-ray study of articulators in motion, allows measurement of spatial and temporal coordination
Important for visualizing swallowing disorders with barium

Question 13

Pro/Con of X-ray

Answer 13

Pro: Provides knowledge about normal/atypical speech production and swallowing

Con: Present health risk with too much exposure to radiation and measurement challenges

Question 14

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Answer 14

Provides picture of body structures using non-radioactive technology
Still images of structures for analysis or faster sampling rates of MRI images provide motion/articular movements for speech/swallowing

Question 15

Ultrasound

Answer 15

Ultrasonic imaging based on reflection of high frequency sound waves produced by ultrasound generator
Reflected sound waves provide differentiation between air and tissue

Limited, but useful for measuring tongue and pharyngeal wall movements

Question 16

Electropalatography

Answer 16

Used to sense contact of tongue against artificial palate with sensors built into it
Acrylic plate formed to fit individual’s palate and studded with multiple electrodes that responds to the touch of the tongue
Provides real time feedback of articulatory patterns when combined with a visual display

Limited but useful for tongue placement