Acoustic aspect of speech sounds

Acoustically, speech sounds is a physical phenomenon produced by the vibration of the vocal cords and perceived due to the vibrations of the layers which occur at the rate of 16-20 thousand times per second (the limit of human hearing).

Physical properties of sounds:

Frequency. The number of vibrations per second and is measured in cycles per second. The greater the frequency, the higher the pitch and vice versa. The frequency depends on certain physical properties of the vibrator: mass, length, tension.

Intensity. Changes in intensity are perceived as variation in the loudness of a sound. The greater the amplitude of vibration, the greater the intensity of a sound. The greater the pressure on the ear-drums, the louder the sound.

Duration. Length or quantity of time during of which the same vibratory motion is maintained.

The sound waves produced by the vibration of the whole body are fundamental waves and are perceived as fundamental tones.

Waves, produced by parts of the body are partial waves and are perceived as partial tones, or overtones, or harmonics.

Articulatory and physiological aspect of speech sounds

Speech is impossible without the following mechanisms:

The power mechanism consists of the diaphragm, the lungs, the bronchi, the windpipe (trachea), the glottis, the larynx, the mouth cavity, the nasal cavity.

The vibrator (voice producing) mechanism consists of the vocal cords.

The resonator mechanism consists of the pharynx, the larynx, the mouth cavity, and the nasal cavity.

The obstructor mechanism consists of the tongue, the lips, the teeth, the soft palate with the uvula, the hard palate, the alveolar ridge.

The four mechanisms work simultaneously.

The organs of speech are divided into active (movable) and passive (fixed). The movable speech organs take an active part in the articulation of speech sounds. They are: lips, the tongue, and the soft palate with the uvula, the vocal cords, and the pharynx. The fixed organs of speech with which the active organs form an obstruction serve as points of articulation. They are: the teeth, the alveolar ridge, the hard palate.

When the air from the lungs gets into the larynx, it makes the vocal cords vibrate and produce voiced consonants and vowels. The air may pass through the larynx, when the vocal cords don’t vibrate and are taken apart. In this case voiceless consonants are produced. When, in the production of consonants, voice prevails over noise, sonants are produced.

Having passed through the vocal cords, the air gets into the pharynx and then, if the soft palate is raised and the way to the nasal cavity is closed, it gets into the mouth cavity. If the soft palate is lowered, and the passage to the stream of the air through the mouth cavity is closed, it passed out of the nasal cavity.

Glossary of phonetic terms

Accidence – grammatical rules about the changes in the form of words connected with the different modifications of their sound nature (foot-feet).

Accuracy of pronunciation – correct and distinct pronunciation.

Acoustic spectrum – the complex range of frequencies of varying intensity which constitute the quality of a sound.

Allomorph – any of two or more actual representations of a morpheme, such as the plural endings [s] (as in bats), [z] (as in bugs), [ɪz] (as in buses).

Articulation – the combination and coordination of movements, by the relevant parts of the vocal apparatus, for the production of a given linguistic sound.

Articulator – the term is used by American linguists instead of the term “movable speech organs”.

Clear sound (Light) – which is made softer due to additional articulatory work – the rising of the middle part of the tongue (front secondary focus) clears [l] in the initial position: little.

Dark sound – the sound which is made harder due to additional articulatory work – the rising of the back part of the tongue to the soft palate (back secondary focus). Dark [w], [l] are pronounced with the back secondary focus.

Depression of the tongue – low position of the tongue in the mouth cavity.

Dorsum of the tongue – the middle and the back parts of the tongue.

Drawl edges of the tongue – the rims of the tongue.

Front of the tongue – the blade and the tip of the tongue – the blade and the middle of the tongue (British phoneticians).

Liquid consonants – the sounds [l], [r].

Orthoepy – the correct pronunciation of the words of the language.

Phonological mistakes – connected with the alteration of the meaning of words, which prevent communication: mouth-mouse.

Roof of the mouth – hard palate.

Sibilants – the sounds of a whistling or hissing nature [s], [z], [∫], [ʒ], [t∫], [ʤ].