Linguistics 2248A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Vocal Tract, Vocal Folds, Phonetics

• School: Western University
• Department: Linguistics
• Course: Linguistics 2248A/B
• Professor: Olga Kharytonava

Document Summary

Acoustics: the study of the waveforms by which speech is transmitted through the atmosphere. Production: how sounds are made in the human vocal tract. Perception: how the incoming acoustic signal is processed to detect the sound sequence originally intended by the speaker. Based on observations of the phonetic form of utterances. Goal: to understand the tacit system of rules that the speaker uses in apprehending and manipulating the sounds of their language. Larynx (voice box), the primary source of sound. Vocal tract: all the portions of the human anatomy through which air flows in the course of speech production. Parallel flaps of tissue extending from each side of the interior larynx wall. Glottal stop occurs when vocal cords are held tightly together. Voicing occurs when vocal cords are held closely together and vibrate. Sound created at the larynx is modified and filtered as it passes through the upper vocal tract.