Formant indicators of «velarization». Part I

Abstract

This article discusses the problem of determining velarization from acoustic data and its relationship to articulation. The aim of the study is to identify the range of formants by which «velarization» can be determined, as well as to determine the location of the highest point of localization of the part of the back of the tongue of the relative palatine arch with this articulation, modeling the sound quality of a specific consonantal sound type. In the course of the study, the methods used at the V.M. Nadelyaev LFEI of the sector of languages of the peoples of Siberia of the IFL SB RAS (Novosibirsk), as well as in the LEFI of the Department of Foreign Languages of the AmSU (Blagoveshchensk). The object of the study is dynamic speech. The subject of the study is «velarization» in languages of different families. The material for the analysis was static and dynamic MRI scans and audio recordings recorded at different times by employees (including the author of this work) of the V.M. Nadelyaev LEFI, made on time and after tomography from the appropriate media. Scientific novelty and theoretical significance of the study: the correlation between F2 , articulation and auditory perception of amplifying articulation of hardness – “velarization” is presented for the first time. The materials and results of the research can be used to develop textbooks on general phonetics, at seminars on dynamic speech analysis, and when writing scientific articles on experimental phonetics. The main conclusions presented in this paper are: 1) the acoustic effect of “velarization” is achieved not only as a result of lifting the back of the tongue to the soft palate not in guttural consonants (velarization), but also between the last third of the second half of the hard palate (prevelarization); 2) correlation analysis of somatic and acoustic material revealed the dependence of format indicators on a certain articulation; 3) a possible range of “velarization” in consonants has been identified – F2 = 1500 Hz – 550 Hz; 4) in the range from 1500 Hz to 1301 Hz, velarization sounds slightly “softer” by ear – a prevelarized consonant than from 1300 Hz to 550 Hz – a velarized consonant.