Lecture 4

Question 1

Identify the major acoustic features that distinguish SEMI VOWELS (e.g /w/, /j/, /r/, /l/)

Answer 1

Formant transitions (esp. 2nd Formant)- rate of change of the transition is faster for semivowels than diphthongs. 3rd formant- used to distinguish /r/ and /l/- F3 = lower for /r/

Question 2

Identify the major acoustic features that distinguish STOP CONSONANTS (voiced vs voiceless)

Answer 2

Presence/Absence of aspiration and of a low frequency and low amplitude formant- lie band band associated with continued glottal pulsing and VOT

Question 3

Identify the major acoustic features that distinguish STOP CONSONANTS (place of articulation)

Answer 3

Syllable onset position and Starting frequency of the 2nd Formant (starting freq = low for anterior place of artic and higher for a back or posterior place of place of artic)

Question 4

Identify the major acoustic features that distinguish FRICATIVES (place of articulation)

Answer 4

Produced by air passing through a tight (though incomplete) construction at some point in the mouth.
Formed by tongue (sibilants /s/, /sh/): have relatively clear spectral peaks.
Formed by lips and teeth (ant. Fricatives /f/ /v/): flat and diffuse spectrums, high resonance frequencies.

Question 5

Identify the major acoustic features that distinguish NASALS (place of articulation)

Answer 5

e.g /m/, /n/.
Intensity of sound is generally lower compared to vowel s because sound is blocked coming through the nasal cavity.
Place of articulation: more anterior the lower the 2nd Formant (/m/ to /n/ to /ng/ being the lowest)

Question 6

Clinical practice: different ways in which knowledge of acoustic phonetics of consonants is clinically useful

Answer 6

2nd formant transition should start at a lower frequency when fronting velars compared to a correctly produced