Rapid movements at segment boundaries

Abstract

This paper reports on a one-to-one aspect of the articulatory-acoustic relationship, explaining how acoustic segment boundaries are a result of the rapid movements of the active articulators. In the acceleration profile, these are identified as acceleration peaks, which can be measured. To test the relationship, consonant and vowel segment durations are compared to articulatory posture intervals based on acceleration peaks, and time lags are measured on the alignment of the segment boundaries to the acceleration peaks. Strong relationships and short time lags are expected when the acceleration peaks belong to crucial articulators, whereas weak relationships are expected when the acceleration peaks belong to non-crucial articulators. The results show that lip posture intervals are indeed strongly correlated with [m], and tongue tip postures are strongly correlated with [n]. This is confirmed by the time lag results, which also reveal that the acoustic boundaries precede the acceleration peaks. Exceptions to the predictions are attributed to the speech material or the joint jaw-lip control unit. Moreover, the vowel segments are strongly correlated with the consonantal articulators while less correlated with the tongue body, suggesting that acceleration of crucial consonantal articulators determines not only consonant segment duration but also vowel segment duration.