Studying the rate of velar elevation across different vowel contexts in normal speech using high speed nasopharyngoscopy

Abstract

Velum has a range of positions across different speech segments, with the lowest velum position for nasal consonants, a high (closed) position for obstruent consonants, and a range of positions in the middle for sonorant consonants and vowels varying according to constriction degree. Vowel environment has a considerable influence on the rate of velum closure. Changes in the rates of velar positioning during production of vowels in non-nasal speech (H-words) was studied in seven typically speaking adults with general American dialect and normal oral-nasal resonance. The participants were scoped using a Phantom Miro 310 high-speed video camera (Image acquisition rate of 5000 fps) connected to a flexible scope. Measurements were taken simultaneously with capturing acoustic data. The data suggested that velum tends to have a higher elevation point for vowels with higher degree of constriction in the oral cavity like /i/. Further results will be discussed.