Speech Production

Question 1

What is speech?

Answer 1

Process of uttering articulated sounds. Complex feedback process in which hearing, perception and information processing in the nervous system and the brain are involved.

Question 2

What is a harmonic

Answer 2

A harmonic is a sound wave that has a frequency that is an integer multiple of the fundamental tone. It is the addition of harmonics that make it possible to distinguish different sounds and instruments.

Question 3

Frequency analysis or spectrum or Fourier

Answer 3

The chart breaks down a wave form into all of its component frequencies.

Question 4

4 stages of speech production

Answer 4

Respiration: provides energy for sound
Phonation: rapid opening and closing of vocal chords
Resonance: the speech mechanism is a resonator. Throat nose mouth
Articulation: production of different configurations which make up the different speech sounds.

Question 5

Speech production: Breathing

Answer 5

Primary focus - to maintain life
Secondary - creates a force to assist vocalisation

Question 6

Speech production: phonation

Answer 6

Rapid opening and closing of vocal chords. Air stream from lungs travels up trachea to the larynx. Vocal folds lie horizontally in larynx. Males have bigger larynx = lower frequency. Makes their voice deeper as their larynx and vocal chords grow significantly during puberty.

Question 7

The larynx

Answer 7

Principle organ for phonation
Outside structure is cartilage
Epiglottis and glottis close during sealing to protect lungs

Question 8

The vocal chords

Answer 8

Muscle and cartilage in throat are key to creating sounds through vocalisation. Size of vocal chords affects the pitch of voice. This determines its resonant frequency. Length of vocal fold at birth is smaller than its adult length

Question 9

Resonators

Answer 9

Voice is weak and needs amplification and modification by resonators. The resonant frequency is dependant on its volume of length (preferred frequency for maximum vibration) large resonators have a low resonant frequency (men) and small resonators have a high resonant frequency (women and children )

Question 10

The vocal tract

Answer 10

Is a container of aid that starts from top of vocal folds and goes all the way to the edge of lips. Average length for male is 17cm and 14cm for females. It acts as a resonator and a filter for all parts of sound created by vocal folds. Pharynx is no1 resonator followed by mouth and then nose.

Question 11

Articulators

Answer 11

Lips, tongue, teeth jaw and soft palate.
They can all be moved to change the sound from the vocal cords and give articulation. Combined with movement of the resonators speech is produced and can be voiced or unvoiced.

Question 12

Voiced vs unvoiced sounds

Answer 12

Voiced: vibration of vocal cords that can be felt manually. All vowels are voiced
Voiceless: sounds generated without vocal chords.

Question 13

Fricactive consonants

Answer 13

Vocal tract is narrowed and air is forced through.
Voiced = z and v
Voiceless= s and f

Question 14

Nasal consonants

Answer 14

Mouth is closed and is produced by allowing sound to enter and escape cavity
M, n, and ng

Question 15

Plosive consonant

Answer 15

Sound is produced by a build up or air pressure behind lips which is then released
Voiceless = p k t
Voiced = b d g

Question 16

Speech development

Answer 16

Developer in first 5 years takes approx 12 years.
4-6 months = babbling
7-11 months = babbles tunefully
12 months = couple of words
18-24 months = 2 words together
2 years = building links
3 years = sentences
> 3 years = develops “ing” stage

Question 17

Acoustic properties of phonemes from lowest intensity to highest intensity

Answer 17

Lowest:
Voiceless fricatives
Voiceless plosives
Voiced fricative and plosives
Nasals
Vowels
:Highest