Articulation and Resonance

Introduction to articulation as an important subsystem of speech production.
- Builds on previous discussions about respiration and phonation.
- Emphasis on the need for a clear understanding of these systems for advanced study in graduate school.

New worksheet distribution.
Importance of keeping papers organized with page numbers.
Announcement of upcoming midterm scheduled for Wednesday (not this week, next week).
- Study guide for midterm to be provided in next class.
- One week allowed for preparation.
Optional extra credit assignment worth 20 points offered.
- Will not assign work during spring break; will post assignment beforehand.
- Case study due on the following Monday with resources encouraged for use (e.g. Google, AI) if reliable.

The articulation module dovetails with future modules on motor speech disorders and phonological disorders.
- Foundations of articulation and phonology learned in this module are crucial for understanding speech disorders.
Aim to learn about typical articulation and phonological processes.

Discussion of vocal tract components:
- Components: - Tip of the tongue
- Tongue base
- Trachea
- Esophagus
- Uvula
- Hard palate
- Soft palate
- Nasal cavity
- Oral cavity
- Pharyngeal cavity
Focus on the rapid movement of the tongue and the soft palate.
Speech production characterized as complex behavior, producing 5-6 syllables and 10-12 phonemes in one second.
Introduction to key concepts:
- Source-filter theory:
- Vocal folds as sound source producing an audible buzz.
- Oral, nasal, and pharyngeal cavities acting as filters to shape sounds.
Important definitions:
- Phoneme: The smallest unit of sound that can differentiate meaning, e.g., minimal pairs like "cat" vs. "bat."
- Morpheme: The smallest unit of meaning in a word (e.g., "kind" vs. "kindly" vs. "kindness").

Resonance: Frequencies in the vocal tract that amplify sound.
- Each object has a resonant frequency that corresponds to its ability to vibrate.
- Fundamental frequency: The frequency at which sound resonates at the vocal folds.
- Importance of shaping the vocal tract to produce varied sounds successfully.

Phoneme Characteristics: - Vowels vs. Consonants
- Phonemes classified as vowels or consonants based on their attributes and functions.
Detailed exploration of how various structures influence resonance:
- Length of the vocal tract affects resonant frequencies produced.
- F1 is influenced by the size of the pharyngeal cavity; larger cavities produce lower frequencies, while smaller cavities produce higher frequencies.

Importance of articulation mechanics:
- Mouth, tongue positions, and movement dictate the production of different speech sounds.
- Various vowel sounds characterized by place of constriction in relation to the oral cavity (e.g., high front, low back).
- Sound production influenced by oral and pharyngeal cavity adjustments, ensuring distinct phonetic qualities through resonance changes.

Main cavities involved in speech:
- Nasal cavity, Oral cavity, Pharyngeal cavity
- Buccal cavity: Gap between cheeks and lower teeth.
- Notable structures within these cavities:
- Hard palate (roof of the mouth)
- Soft palate
- Oropharynx
Pharyngeal cavity divided into three parts:
- Nasopharynx, Oropharynx, Laryngopharynx.

Key articulators involved in speech:
- Lips, Teeth, Tongue, Hard palate, Soft palate, Mandible
- Teeth important for forming labiodental sounds and maintaining oral pressure.
Mandible: Important for housing teeth and facilitating speech movement.
Maxilla: Upper jaw, contributes to hard palate and nasal cavity structure.
Palatine Bone: Makes up the posterior part of the hard palate.
Occlusions discussed for relation to speech and articulation problems, particularly in clinical settings.

Distinctions between vowels and consonants in resonance characteristics:
- Fricatives and affricates sensitive to articulation points.
- Measurements focus predominantly on vowels for determining formant frequencies; consonants measured using spectral moments.