PSYC 102 Chapter Notes -Vocal Tract, Speech Perception, Vocal Folds
Document Summary
Acoustic signal- patterns of air pressure changes produced by movement of structures within the vocal apparatus. Articulators- structures such as tongue, lips, teeth, jaw, and soft palate that alter shape of vocal tract as air passes through it to produce a specific sound. Vowels are produced by vibration of vocal cords (specifically determined by shape of vocal tract) which changes resonant frequency of vocal tract and produces peaks of pressure at number of different frequencies (formants) Each vowel has a characteristic series of formants. Sound spectrogram- indicates the pattern of frequencies and intensities over time that make up an acoustic signal. Dark areas indicate intensity and vertical lines indicate pressure oscillations caused by vibrations of vocal cord. Consonants are produced by a constriction/closing of vocal tract by the articulators. Formant transitions- rapid shifts in frequency preceding or following formants (associated with consonants)
