Acoustic Analysis of Vowels

Acoustic Analysis of Vowels

The average values of formants (F) of the English vowels are within these range:                 

“In general, a format is a concentration of acoustic energy around a particulary frequency in the speech wave.”  (1)

       F1                             F2                                    F3

1.  / ɑ: / 710  (LB)  1.  / i: / 2250 (HF)             1.  / i: /  2890 

2.  / ӕ /  690  (LF)        2.  / I /  1920  (HF)      2.  / I /  2560

3.  / ɔ: /  590  (MB)      3.  / eI/  1770  (MF)     3.  /ɑ:/  2540

4.  / eI/  550  (MF)      4.  /ӕ/   1680  (LF)         / ɔ:/ 2540

5.  /ʊ/  450  (HB)         5.  /ɑ: /  1100  (LB)      4.  / eI / 2490

6. /I/ 400        (HF)   6. /ʊ/  1030 (HB)    /ӕ/ 2490

7. /u:/ 310 (HB)        7. /ɔ:/ 880 (MB)         5. /ʊ/ 2380

8. /i:/ 280 (HF)    8. /u:/ 870 (HB)  6./u:/ 2250

Machine -----  sound spectrograph

Patterns  ----- spectrogram

                     = visible speech  (voiceprint)

Formant frequencies = overtone pitches

When the vocal cords are vibrating rapidly, the pitch is high.  The variation in pitch is created by changes in the rate of vocal cord vibration.

All the vowels are voiced.

F1                    F2                    F3

1.   / ɑ:/          1.   / i: /                1.  / i: /

2.   / ӕ /           2.   / I /                2.  / I /

3.   / ɔ: /           3.   /eI/                3.  / ɑ: /

4.   / eI/            4.   / ӕ /                4.   / ɔ:/

5.   /ʊ/             5.   / ɑ:/                5.  /eI/

6.   /I/            6.   / ʊ /                6.   / ӕ /

7.   / u: /         7.   / ɔ:/                 7.  / ʊ /

8.   / i: /          8.   /u:/                 8.  /u:/

F1                          F2              F3

1.  / ɑ:/          5                3

2.  / ӕ /          4                6

3.  / ɔ: /          7                4

4.   / eI /        3                5

5.    / ʊ /        6                7

*6.  / I /        2                2

*7.   / u: /       8                8

*8.   / i:/         1                1

(value from high to low)

Note:

1.   Prof. Dr. Imran Ho Abdullah.  (2007)  HBET1203  English Phonetics and 

      Phonology.  Meteor Doc. Sdn. Bhd.

This is the course module from Open University, Malaysia.  The information of my notes are mainly from this module.    I tried to make the concepts as clear as possible with my own words.  Of course, I added the details from the long years' study, observation and research.   I tried to be as well-organised and systematic as possible for easy learning and remembrance.   Learning to me to be considered has taken place when you can remember what you have learnt and can apply it  in the new situation.  
          General rules are common wealth.  They are dead-fixed.   But we can organise them creatively and systematically for easy learning and remembrance.
Unless I cannot use my own words to rephrase them, I use the writer's words.   I would like to be as creative as possible with the dead-fixed rules.   Otherwise it is meaningless to create notes.   You may compare my notes with the course module and see the differences and similarities.  
         I believe in creativity to keep my teaching alive and fun.   I don't enjoy copying.  I make it a point:  Never accept anything blindly for my own good and others.   

Acoustic Phonetics

Speech Analysis:  Acoustic Phonetics

Acoustic Phonetics is the scientific analysis of speech sounds from the view of what we hear with the help of modern instrument (speech analyser) and  the computer. 

Thus, speech sounds can be captured, visualised and analysed.

Hence, it is also known as instrumental phonetics.

Speech sounds = sound wave and sound energy

Speech analysis is to examine speech waves based on the  classification of speech waves into 4 categories.

The elements of speech waves:

-----  amplitude  (height)

-----  duration    (length)

-----  wavelength  (width)

Classification of Speech Waves

-----  silence

-----  Burst

-----  Random

-----  Periodic

I.   Speech Waves

     Speech waves form when speech sounds are uttered.   In the word “good” , you will see the speech waves of [g]—[ʊ] – [d]

in the form of speech waves

----- [g] silence --  burst

----- [ʊ] the vowel ---periodic  

-----[d]  silence  

If these speech sounds are caught in the speech analyser, you will

see the speech waves ---small [g] ---big [ʊ] ---small [d].  Each of these speech sounds can be measured in terms of Amplitude, Duration and Wavelength.

Imagine the number of speech waves in speech you create daily conversation.  If you speak all the time, imagine the total length of your speech waves.  Can you visual the speech waves in the sentences?

       Sometimes you are good and kind.  Sometimes you are bad and unkind.  Sometimes you are fussy and nasty.  Sometimes you are cranky and cheeky.  Sometimes you are well-disciplined and well-behaved. 

    You may search Google for more information of “Speech Sound Waves”

Assignment May Semester, 2009

May Semester, 2009

English phonetics and Phonology

Give in-text citation where necessary.

Main focus of this assignment

A. The differences in the way they pronounce the vowels in the selected

    words.

   

General Aspect: 

You may show all the basic vowels in Vowel Quadrilateral.  Then you

briefly explain the general aspect of vowels.  Of course, for the vowels

which are used in underlined words especially, you have to  briefly

describe.

   

Specific Aspect

The differences in the way the two speakers you have chosen  pronounce the vowels in the selected words.  You just ask them to read  the 6 sentences without any preparation at all. 

You may record their speech in tape or CD.  Then you analyse  how

they  pronounced the vowel speech sounds of the underlined words in

6 sentences.  Always give relevant examples to explain.

     

B.  The differences in the way they pronounce the consonants in

     the selected words.

General Aspect:

You may show the basic features of all the consonant phonemes in table.  Then you briefly describe the 3 features to identify the different consonants, especially the ones which you find in the underlined words.

Specific Aspect:

The differences in the way the two speakers pronounce the

consonants in the selected words.  You may describe the

differences in terms of  places and manners of articulation.  

In other words, you show why they produced different speech sounds.  As we know different sounds are produced due to the wrong places / manners of articulations.  Give relevant examples to explain.

  

C.  The effects of the consonants preceding and following the

     vowels in each of the selected words.

General Aspect:

Briefly define what syllable is.  A consonant can be  syllable-releasing and syllable-arresting.  Explain what syllable-releasing and arresting is. For example the word ‘several’  ['sevrəl].  There are 2 syllables ['sev-rəl].  The / s / consonant phoneme is syllable-releasing and /v/ is syllable-arresting in the first syllable;  /r/ is syllable-releasing and /l/ is syllable-arresting.

Specific Aspect:

Explain the effects of the consonants preceding and following the vowels in each of the selected words.  You may express the conditions in a tree program or in table.  In other words, you are asked to express the words in syllable structures.  Please refer to Topic 3.

D.  Your reflections on the patterns emerging from your analysis.

General Aspect:

What insight and understanding you gain through this process.

Specific Aspect:

Discuss the findings related to vowel  and consonant speech sounds.

Conclusions of the findings:  (deduction and induction)

What general rules you have discovered. 

Implication of the Findings: 

Any recommendations?