Speech Science

Question 1

Speech Science

Answer 1

Study of:
Articulation and physiology of speech production

The acoustical characteristics of speech

The processes by which listeners perceive speech

Important Because it Allows us to:

Understand normal speech production and perception

Develop instruments for studying speech and hearing

Disseminate results of research to benefit colleagues and students

Question 2

Speech

Answer 2

Primary mode of communication

It is efficient
It is redundant
Genetically endowed

Question 3

Human Vocal Tract

Answer 3

Extends from back of mouth down through trachea to lungs

Question 4

Vocal folds/cords

Answer 4

Near top of human vocal tract (lower in non-humans)

Primary purpose is to protect lungs

Extend from Adam’s apple to back of larynx to act as barrier to foreign objects entering lungs

Reflexive cough activated when anything other than air comes in contact with vocal folds

Question 5

Secondary purpose of vocal folds

Answer 5

To produce speech

Air supply in lungs moves upward to vocal folds
Upper movement of air results in vibration of vocal folds
Vibration results in sound (voice)
Air sent to oral cavity (mouth)

Question 6

Epiglottis

Answer 6

flap that covers trachea during swallowing

Question 7

Larynx

Answer 7

(voice box)

top part of windpipe with folds of membrane that vibrate during speech (vocal folds)

Question 8

Trachea

Answer 8

windpipe to lungs

in front of esophagus that goes to stomach

Question 9

Lungs

Answer 9

not technically part of tract but necessary for air supply for speech

Question 10

Primary purpose of human vocal tract

Answer 10

To protect lungs

epiglottis
vocal folds
trachea

All close to prevent foreign objects from entering the lungs

Cough Reflex activates when these fail

Question 11

Language

Answer 11

A rule governed communication system composed of meaningful elements that can be combined in many ways to produce sentences, some of which are novel.

The ability to express thoughts in spoken or written language and the ability to comprehend the thoughts expressed by other people either in speech or in writing.

It is unique to humans
It is essentially similar in all humans

Question 12

Foreign Language

Answer 12

Sounds complex
Difficult
Talk faster

We don’t recognize the sounds, the words or the rules governing the language

Question 13

Language Definition

Answer 13

The comprehension and/or use of spoken, written and/or other symbol systems.
Language involves:

Form (phonology, morphology, syntax)
Content (semantics)
Function (pragmatics)

Question 14

Form of Language

Answer 14

Phonology
Morphology
Syntax

Question 15

Phonology

Answer 15

the sound system of a language and the rules that govern the sound combinations

Question 16

Syntax

Answer 16

the system governing the order and combination of words to form sentences, and the relationships among the elements within a sentence.

Question 17

Morphology

Answer 17

the system that governs the structure of words and the construction of word forms

Question 18

Content of Language

Answer 18

Semantics

Question 19

Semantics

Answer 19

the system that governs the meanings of words and sentences

Question 20

Function of Language

Answer 20

Pragmatics

Question 21

Pragmatics

Answer 21

the system that combines the above language components in functional and socially appropriate communication.

Question 22

Language Characteristics

Answer 22

Not synonymous with “speech”

Requires the use of speech or gestures or visual icons
Cannot be taught to other species
(see information on birds and chimpanzees)

Has universal features that occur in all languages, i.e. grammar: Nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc

Develops in similar sequence in all similar languages: Individual differences in development occur but sequence remains same for typical development

Question 23

Thought

Answer 23

An internal representation of experiences
Can be in the form of images (visual), action (kinesthetic), or language (auditory)

Can be independent of language: ex Aphasia
Deaf children

Piaget concluded that cognition develops on its own: Language interacts with cognition, but does not determine the thinking

Question 24

Behavioral/Learning Theory of Language Acquisition

Answer 24

Focuses on the observable and measurable aspects of language behavior

Emphasize performance over competence (function of language)

Language is a skill learned like any other behavior

Empiricist view – learned behavior molded by the environment

B.F. Skinner – environment shapes behavior – speech is not rule governed, but shaped by stituations

Question 25

Behavioral Learning Approaches

Answer 25

Classical conditioning – process of forming associations between stimuli and response

Operant conditioning – behaviors are rewarded or punished

Question 26

Linguistic/Innate Language Acquisition Theory

Answer 26

Language is innate: Noam Chomsky

Genetically determined language capacity and similar across the human species

Universal grammar

Language acquisition device (LAD) – innate language component – cannot be “learned”

Children are programmed to learn language

Biased towards the structural and nativist positions

Proof – infants focus on linguistically significant sounds
Overgeneralization rule – “I taked the cookie.”
Critical period (Lenneberg’s theory)

Question 27

Hermann Von Helmholtz

Answer 27

Developed the mathematics of resonance
That puffs of air emitted between the vibrating vocal folds are the acoustic source of voice

That the harmonics of the voice are resonated in the pharynx and oral cavities

That vowels are recognized because of distinctive resonances

Question 28

Henry Sweet

Answer 28

Served as the model for Shaw’s Henry Higgins

Transcription system was precursor of the ITPA

Question 29

Alexander Graham Bell

Answer 29

Inventor of the telephone

Teacher of the deaf

Question 30

R.H. Stetson

Answer 30

Developed and refined objective methods for measuring the movements of the respiratory mechanism and the articulators in speech production

Palatography – measures points of contact between the tongue and the roof of the mouth

Question 31

Homer W. Dudley

Answer 31

Electrical engineer
Pioneer in speech synthesis
Voder – synthesized continuous speech by electric circuits
Focused on the acoustics of speech more so than the articulation of sounds
His ideas form the basis for modern conceptualizations of the speech production process

Question 32

Cooper, Liberman, Delattre

Answer 32

Speech perception
Pattern playback
See the entire acoustic pattern
Hear how it sounded
Modify it