The roles of three possible cues to dynamic vowel identity

Abstract

Recent research [Nearey and Assmann (1986);Strange (1989)] suggests that the changes in vowels over time are perceptually relevant to their identification. Possible “cues” for dynamic vowels include the frequency locus of spectral peaks over time, duration, and extent, rate, and direction of peak movement over time. The possible roles of duration and extent and rate of peak movement over time in cuing the [ʌ]‐[a] distinction were examined using synthetic [ʌ]‐[a] series. For each of three continua, two of the cues were varied while the third was held constant. Pilot testing showed that the continua were ambiguous on the basis of frequency alone and direction of spectral peak movement over time was nondistinctive. The ability of subjects to use the two vowel categories consistently was the basis on which the efficacy of the cues was judged. Duration was found to reliably cue vowel identity while no evidence of an effect of either rate of movement of spectral peak change or extent of spectral peak movement was found. Results will be discussed with respect to potential acoustic “cues” for dynamic vowels. [Work supported by NIDCD Grant DC 00219 to SUNY at Buffalo.]