On introducing parametric phonetics

Abstract

The term parametric is a convenient term to use to refer to a view of the study of speech sounds in which the continuous activity of the organs of speech in the production of a stretch of speech is highlighted. Parametric phonetics offers an alternative view to the more familiar segmental or postural view, in which the state of the organs of speech for a particular single segment at a particular instance is investigated. The difference between the two approaches may also be referred to as dynamic and static, respectively; the dynamic parametric view draws attention to the movement of the organs of speech, whereas the static segmental or postural view draws attention to the position or posture of the organs of speech at a given moment. In my view, the two approaches do not contradict each other; they complement each other, both being theoretically acceptable. In this paper I am concerned with introducing the parametric approach into conventional phonetics courses at first degree and postgraduate level.