Bilabial Consonants Research Articles

Phonological development of children with cochlear implants

ABSTRACT Phonological processes are examples of normal simplified articulation seen in all children during the language and speech sound acquisition phase, and their frequency decreases and disappears with age. They are of concern when they are used beyond the expected time frames or when the simplification processes do not follow the typical substitutions. The aim of this study was to examine the phonological development and consonant acquisition of Turkish-speaking children with CI and compare the results with normative data. Comparisons were made according to the duration of CI use and also according to the age of CI. Therefore, 52 participants were analysed, first divided into 4 groups according to duration of CI use and then into 2 groups according to age of CI. Phonology skills were evaluated with the Bankson-Bernthal Phonology Test. In children with CI, 1373 consonant production errors were detected. There were 28 phonological processes corresponding to these errors. The most common phonological processes were Initial Consonant Deletion, Cluster Reduction, Final Consonant Deletion, Vowel Lengthening, Devoicing, Assimilation, Nasalization and Dentalization. The most errors occurred in fricative and voiced sounds, and the fewest errors occurred in bilabial consonants (/b,/p,/m/). This study demonstrated that CI performed before the age of three years and continued use of CI over an extended period of time have beneficial impacts on the development of phonological skills. This study is thought to enhance the existing research on the acquisition of consonants and phonological development in Turkish-speaking children with CI, a topic that currently lacks sufficient information.

Lip Synchrony of Bilabial Consonants in the Lithuanian Dubbed Live-Action Filma Dog's Way Home

AbstractThis article explores the intricate nature of lip synchrony in dubbing as an audiovisual translation mode, highlighting its significance beyond aesthetic considerations. Often overlooked during the translation process for dubbing, the mismatch between auditory and visual signals caused by unsynchronized lip movements can have a negative impact on speech perception. Moreover, with the constant rise of audiovisual content, achieving satisfactory lip synchrony remains a crucial challenge that demands attention. Although scholars such as Fodor (1976) and Chaume (2012) have recognized the importance of bilabial consonants in maintaining lip synchrony, there is a notable research gap specifically focusing on this aspect within the Lithuanian dubbed industry. To address this gap, this study investigates the lip synchrony of bilabial consonants in the Lithuanian dubbed version of the live-action filmA Dog's Way Home(2019). By employing a comparative research approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative analyses, the study draws on theoretical perspectives presented by McGurk and MacDonald (1976), Fodor (1976), Chaume (2004, 2012), and Koverienė (2015). The analysis of the cinematographic shots reveals that only a small percentage (19%) of the bilabial phonemes in the source language utterances were visually prominent instances, and consequently chosen for detailed examination of lip synchrony. This finding suggests that strict adherence to lip synchrony may not be crucial in numerous instances, allowing translators to have greater flexibility in their approach. The target language utterances demonstrate a relatively high percentage (approximately 76%) of synchronous cases for bilabials, particularly in proper names and international words. However, the research also reveals additional 94 instances of bilabials in the target language that were not found in the source language utterances, leading to dischronemes. Therefore, audiovisual translators are urged to consider not only how to maintain the lip synchrony of bilabial consonants in the target language, but also how to avoid the emergence of new bilabials.

Lexical Innovation Processes of Youth Netspeak on Malay Twitter Posts

The formation of neologisms in Malay has not been extensively studied and therefore has yet to be fully understood. The current study examined the lexical innovation processes in Twitter posts in Malay. A 25,679-word corpus was compiled from 2,000 tweets of 200 Malaysian Twitter users in their twenties. The textual analysis performed through AntConc software identified “ ni ” (this) and “ nk ” (want) as the top two neologisms, and these words constituted 45.8% of the corpus. Most of the neologisms are formed through clipping (65%) and pseudo-elliptical construction (26%), while blending (7%) and elongation (2%) are minor word formation processes. The clipping affects vowels (28%) more than consonants (9%), whether it is deletion, replacement, or addition. The pseudo-elliptical constructions involve letters of the alphabet and phonological adjustments to vowels and consonants. On vowel changes, the results show that there is a simplification of diphthongs to monophthongs, and a movement towards vowels in the middle position [e] or [o]. As for consonant changes, there is a shift in the place of articulation towards bilabial consonants [p], [m], and [w] and words containing [h] and [r] are likely to be dropped or replaced. The changes in the spelling are a result of changes in the spoken discourse. The findings suggest that exploring the phonological rules can explain pseudo-elliptical constructions, leading to a better framework on morphology and phonology to understand formation of neologisms in social media discourse.

Pemerolehan Bahasa Kedua pada Anak Penyandang Tunagrahita Sedang di SDLB Mambaul Ulum Paiton Probolinggo

Language acquisition is not a complicated thing for children who are classified as normal. In contrast to children with special needs or disabilities. The way of acquiring language that cannot take place quickly becomes a separate obstacle for parents who are blessed with children with disabilities. This will later be problematic in the phonological realm of their second language. This problem occurred to students at SDLB Mambaul Ulum Paiton Probolinggo. Therefore, this study aims to describe the acquisition of a second language in moderately mentally retarded persons at the phonological level at SDLB Mambaul Ulum Paoiton Probolinggo. The research method used is descriptive qualitative research. While the data in this study were in the form of utterances originating from moderately mentally retarded children at SDLB Mambaul Ulum Paiton Probolinggo. The results showed that in language acquisition, the problem that often arises is that mentally retarded children have difficulty mentioning some consonant fonts. Rani and Andrey can pronounce the font with a rather clear articulation. For consonants that are nasal bilabial consonants, such as [m], [p], [b], and palatal consonants [j], Rani and Andrey pronounce perfect fonts. However, apico-alveolar consonants like [t], and [d], Rani and Andrey have a little trouble pronouncing the font. Based on the location of articulation, these fonts are inhibited consonants, namely consonants that occur because the air coming out of the lungs is completely blocked.

The pluripotentiality of bilabial consonants: The images of softness and cuteness in Japanese and English

AbstractThe current study experimentally examined whether labial consonants were sound-symbolically associated with the images of softness and cuteness in Japanese and English. The results showed that all the bilabial consonants [p, b, m, ɸ, w] used in Japanese convey such images. In English, the consonants evoking the image of softness were bilabials but not labiodentals, and those linked to the image of cuteness were unaspirated, low-frequency bilabials. These results demonstrated the pluripotentiality of sound symbolism, meaning that a certain set of linguistic sounds evokes different meanings and images both within a single language and across languages (e.g. Winter et al. 2019; Kawahara and Kumagai to appear). Moreover, under the backcloth that the description of the glide /w/ concerning the place of articulation in Japanese and English is not uncontroversial, the current paper indicates – based on the current sound-symbolic experimental results – that the glide /w/ is phonologically labial in each language.

What’s in a villain’s name?

Abstract This paper reports two case studies of sound symbolism using the naturalistic name corpora of characters from Disney and Pokémon. Building upon previous studies of sound symbolism, we tested two hypotheses: (1) voiced obstruents, which are generally associated with negative images, are favored in villainous characters’ names, while (2) bilabial consonants, which are symbolically associated with cuteness, are disfavored in such names. The results show that these tendencies hold in our corpora, suggesting that a concept that is as complex as “villain” can be signaled via sound symbolism. Theoretical implications for cognitive linguistics based on our results are discussed.

The Method of Surgical Lip Repair Affects Speech Outcomes in Children With Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate.

It was hypothesized that lip repair protocols in children with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) would affect development of bilabial consonants /m/ /b/ /p/. This study compared speech outcomes in 2 surgical groups. A retrospective case note investigation. UK Cleft Centre (2000-2009). Forty-nine children with complete BCLP, of whom 26 had a 1-stage and 23 a 2-stage bilateral cleft lip repair. One-stage cleft lip repair versus a 2-staged cleft lip repair. Bilabial consonant production at 18 months, 3 and 5 years of age. Cleft Speech Characteristics (CSCs) at age 5. At age 18 months, 81% of the 1-stage lip repair group and 4% of the 2-stage lip repair group produced bilabial consonants (P <·0001, Fisher test). At age 3 years, 81% of the 1-stage and 26% of the 2-stage lip repair groups produced bilabial consonants (P =·0133, Fisher test). At age 5 years, both groups had similar bilabial consonant production, but children in the 2-stage lip repair group had more frequent and severe CSCs (P = ·0037, χ2). A 1-stage lip repair for children with complete BCLP resulted in better bilabial consonant production at 18 months and 3 years of age than a 2-stage lip repair. At age 5 years both groups had bilabial consonants but children in the 2-stage lip repair group had worse CSCs. The surgical protocol for bilateral cleft lip repair affected speech outcome in children with BCLP.

Korean language specific dysarthria associated with idiopathic peripheral facial palsy.

To investigate the patterns of dysarthria in Korean patients with idiopathic peripheral facial palsy.Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral facial palsy within the onset of symptom to 7 day time frame were prospectively enrolled. The initial symptom of facial palsy was examined by the House-Brackmann scale. All patients were tested by Urimal-Test of Articulation and Phonology-2 (U-TAP-2), which is specialized for the evaluation of dysarthria in Korean language - Hangeul - when the patients first visited and were followed up at 4 weeks after the onset, respectively. The facial electromyography was performed after 7 days, since the presentation of the first symptom. Electric stimulation therapy and simple facial exercise education were performed in all patients as routine treatments for facial palsy with or without dysarthria. The patterns of dysarthria were analyzed by initial and follow-up U-TAP-2 results, respectively.Among 78 patients, 50 patients (64.1%) had dysarthria in the first assessment. The 6 consonants and 3 vowels were errored in U-TAP-2 test. The bilabial consonants “ㅃ”[p] or “ㅍ” [ph] were substituted with labiodental consonant [f], and palate-alveolar consonants were replaced by alveolar consonants - “ㅊ”[t͡ɕh] to “ㅌ”[th]. Bilabial consonant “ㅁ”[m] was replaced by velar nasal consonant “ㅇ”[ŋ]. Liquid consonant was altered to nasal sound. For example, “ㄹ”[r] is replace by “ㄴ”[n]. The velar consonant “ㄲ”[k] was pronounced as “ㅋ” [kh]. The diphthong vowels “ㅟ”[ɥi], “ㅚ”[ø], or “ㅘ”[wa] were pronounced as monothong “ㅣ” [i], “ㅐ”[ε], or “ㅏ”[a], and “못”[mot] is slowly pronounced. After 4 weeks, 14 patients still showed pronunciation errors in 5 consonants and 3 vowels. The most common error was substitution.Among 78 patients with idiopathic peripheral facial palsy, 50 patients had dysarthria and 14 out of 50 patients with dysarthria lasted more than 4 weeks. Five consonants (“ㅁ”, “ㅊ”, “ㅍ”, “ㄹ”, “ㄲ”) and 3 vowels (“ㅘ”, “ㅗ”, “ㅟ or ㅚ”) were still mispronounced after 4 weeks, and most common error was substitution. Therefore, speech evaluation and speech therapy specialized for errors in high frequency of consonants and vowels are needed in patients with idiopathic peripheral facial palsy, in Korea.

음향학적 분석과 청취 실험을 바탕으로 한 한국어와 중국어 파열음 비교 연구

The purpose of this study is to compare the VOT duration of plosive sounds in Korean and Mandarin Chinese from the perspective of phonetic acoustics and to find out the closest way of pronunciation for Chinese to learn Korean pronunciation more effectively. Chinese has 5 kinds of tones: level, rising, falling-rising, falling and neutral tones. In this paper, neutral tone of velar, alveolar and bilabial consonants are recorded from five native Chinese speakers. Korean plosive consonants with different positions are recorded from five native Korean speakers. The data exhibit that the VOT of unaspirated consonant /g/, /d/, /b/ followed by a neutral tone in Chinese is close to Korean intervocalic stop ㄱ/g/, ㄷ/d/, ㅂ/b/ in the internal position. The aspirated sounds as /k/, /t/, /p/ followed by a neutral tone in Chinese are close to Korean lax soundsㄱ/k/, ㄷ/t/, ㅂ/p/ in initial position. The result of this study would be very useful for beginning Korean learners.

Speech characteristics in the congenital and childhood-onset forms of myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a slowly progressive multi-systemic disease with an autosomal-dominant inheritance caused by a mutation on chromosome 19 (19q13.3). To explore speech characteristics in a group of individuals with the congenital and childhood-onset forms of DM1 in terms of intelligibility, speech-sound production, nasality and compensatory articulation. A further aim was to analyse whether speech characteristics were correlated to subforms of DM1 and if speech outcome could be related to muscle strength. Fifty native Swedish speakers (7-29 years old) with the congenital and childhood-onset forms of DM1 and 13 healthy controls participated in the study. The intelligibility of spontaneous speech, speech-sound production - single-word and sentence repetition - including percentage consonants correct (PCC) and compensatory articulation, were evaluated by speech-language pathologists from video recordings. A nasometer and lip-force meter were used for objective evaluations of nasality and orofacial strength. In severe (n = 9) and mild congenital DM1 (n = 13), all participants had impaired intelligibility to some degree, while this applied to 79% of those with childhood DM1 (n = 28). PCC for bilabials were 53.9% in severe congenital DM1, 57.4% in mild congenital DM1 and 85.3% in childhood DM1; the corresponding results for dentals were 69.3%, 59.2% and 87.3%. Bilabials were most often compensated for with interdental or labiodental articulation. Dentals were substituted with interdental articulation. Velars were seldom affected. The mean nasalance score was high in the study group compared with controls and with normative data and the majority had weak lips. Maximum lip force, as well as the mean nasalance score, correlated significantly with the intelligibility score. The deviant production of bilabial consonants, interdental articulation and hypernasal speech are characteristic features of dysarthria in congenital and childhood DM1. Dysarthria is more frequent and more severe in congenital DM1 compared with childhood DM1. Most individuals with congenital DM1 and childhood-onset DM1 will need speech therapy from a young age. For some children with incomprehensible speech or severe neurodevelopmental disorders, alternative and augmentative ways of communication will be part of the treatment.

Acoustic Study of Second-Formant Transition in Flaccid Dysarthria

Introduction: Flaccid dysarthria is a group of motor speech disorders. Muscle weakness and reduced muscle tone, speed, range, and accuracy of speech movements are the primary speech features in these patients. Speech acoustic patterning in these patients shows deficits in motor control including problems in timing, articulatory coordination and laryngeal control. The aim of the present study was to investigate the speech timing through second-formant transition (F2T) acoustic analysis. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional and case-control study, ten speakers with flaccid dysarthria and ten speakers without dysarthria were participated. After exposure to the test environment, acoustic signals related to target words including voiced and voiceless stops were collected and recorded. After recording data through the software of Praat, spectrogram of each word was carefully examined to determine the second-formant transition. Results: The people with mild to moderate flaccid dysarthria possessed longer second-formant transition comparing with normal individuals and also differences between the two groups in bilabial and dental consonants were significant (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Increased duration of the second-formant transition in individuals with mild to moderate flaccid dysarthria indicates that in these patients, there are defects in the coordination, timing of movements and articulatory implementation to produce the target segment. In addition, the clinical implication of these results is that different consonants show varying sensitivity to the problem of speech motor control. Speech-language pathologists should pay special attention to duration of second-formant transition (bilabial, dental) and rate of variation in the program for flaccid dysarthria.

Phonological characteristics and rehabilitation training of abnormal velar in children with functional articulation disorders

To explore the phonological characteristics and rehabilitation training of abnormal velar in patients with functional articulation disorders (FAD). Eighty-seven patients with FAD were observed of the phonological characteristics of velar. Seventy-two patients with abnormal velar accepted speech training. The correlation and simple linear regression analysis were carried out on abnormal velar articulation and age. The articulation disorder of /g/ mainly showed replacement by /d/, /b/ or omission. /k/ mainly showed replacement by /d/, /t/, /g/, /p/, /b/. /h/ mainly showed replacement by /g/, /f/, /p/, /b/ or omission. The common erroneous articulation forms of /g/, /k/, /h/ were fronting of tongue and replacement by bilabial consonants. When velar combined with vowels contained /a/ and /e/, the main error was fronting of tongue. When velar combined with vowels contained /u/, the errors trended to be replacement by bilabial consonants. After 3 to 10 times of speech training, the number of erroneous words decreased to (6.24±2.61) from (40.28±6.08) before the speech training was established, the difference was statistically significant (Z=-7.379, P=0.000). The number of erroneous words was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.691, P=0.000). The result of simple linear regression analysis showed that the determination coefficient was 0.472. The articulation disorder of velar mainly shows replacement, varies with the vowels. The targeted rehabilitation training hereby established is significantly effective. Age plays an important role in the outcome of velar.

Lip Contact Pressure While Talking in Background Noise

Loudness manipulation is an important clinical tool in reducing functional communication limitations and increasing speaking participation in individuals with dysarthria. Increasing loudness appears to influence all domains of the speech production system (i.e., respiratory, laryngeal, and orofacial), resulting in increased effort and coordination. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence speaking under different levels of background noise has on lip contact pressure, a measure of physiological effort, during bilabial consonant production. Ten young adults ranging in age from 20 to 24 years read 30 sentences under three different levels of multitalker babble background noise (0, 40, &amp; 80 dBHL). An Entran Pressure Transducer was used to acquire lip contact pressure for words containing the bilabial consonants /p/, /b/, and /m/. Intensity of the voice significantly increased across noise conditions; however, static and dynamic measures of articulatory contact pressures (ACP) were not significantly influenced by background noise. Increase in physiological effort as represented by ACP appears not be related to increasing intensity while speaking in background noise. Additional study of the factors influencing different aspects of articulatory contact pressure is recommended for individuals with and without motor speech disorders.

The labial viseme reconsidered: Evidence from production and perception.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the labial stops /p,b,m/ may be impossible to discriminate visually, leading to their designation as a single viseme. This perceptual limitation has engendered the belief that there are no visible differences in the production of /p,b,m/, with consequences for research in machine recognition, where production differences below the level of the viseme have been largely ignored. Kinematic studies using high-speed cine, however, have previously documented systematic differences in the production of labial consonants. This study examines the degree to which visual /p,b,m/ are discriminable in production and perception. Two experiments—one designed to measure kinematic orofacial movement using optical flow analysis and one designed to test perceiver discrimination of /p,b,m/—were used to establish the absence/presence of systematic visual differences in bilabial productions, and to replicate the previous perception findings. Results from the optical flow analysis indicate systematic kinematic differences for the peak velocity of the lower face, which corresponds to the release of the bilabial consonant. Significant differences were found in velocity between /m/ and /b/, and between /p/ and /b/, but not between /p/ and /m/. Preliminary results from the perception task suggest discrimination of bilabial consonants is at chance level.

Development of Phonetic inventory in 2-to-6 year-old Farsi speaking children

Introduction: Children say the first words in the end of their first year of life. As children grow, the number of words and phonemes in their phonetic inventory increases.The first appearing consonants in the children's phonetic inventory are nasal, plosive, fricative, labial and lingual phonemes. The older a child, the more his/her usage of various types of consonants.In order to make a decision about the appropriateness of children's speech, speech and language pathologists need the evidence that comes from the studies focusing on different aspects of speech development. The aim of the present study was to determine the acquisition age of consonants in Farsi- speaking children. Materials and Methods: The present research was a cross-sectional descriptive - analytic study. Speech samples of 96 2-6 year-old Farsi-speaking children who lived in Tehran (Iran) were recorded and then analyzed. Through 44 pictures, 22 consonants of Farsi were studied in final and first positions of mono and two syllabic words. Results: Nasal and plosive bilabial consonants /b/, /p/, and /m/ were the first consonants pronounced correctly in both positions of words by 2-2/5 year-old children. The fricative and affricative consonants / A¾ / and / Aµ / were the last ones emerged correctly in both positions, that is to say, after the 4 th year of life. According to the Regression test results, this hypothesis that the number of children's consonantal errors decreases as they grow, was confirmed . Conclusion : By the 4 th year of their life, Farsi-speaking children can correctly produce all consonants in both final and first positions of mono and two syllabic words except / A¾ /, /Aµ /. These findings are consistent with the similar studies done in English language. Fricatives are also the most difficult consonants in English language.

Language background influences the emergence of voice onset time production and perception.

This study investigates the production and perception of voice onset time (VOT) among preschool children who acquired English and French simultaneously compared to monolingual peers of these two languages. Children participated in this study at the age of 18 months and returned at 24 months for a second session. During each session the children took part in a visual habituation procedure to evaluate discrimination of VOT using edited natural /b/+ vowel and /p/ + vowel syllables in a task format developed by Houston et al. (2007) to assess individual performance. In this task, three VOT values (produced by several talkers) were presented to the children: one within adult norms of the language for voiced bilabial consonants; one within the adult norms of the language for voiceless bilabial consonants; and one between the means for the voiced and voiceless consonants. The children also participated in a structured play session, and their spontaneous productions of word initial stops were acoustically analyzed to measure VOT. Preliminary analysis indicates that accuracy in discriminating VOT precedes production of voicing contrasts for all groups, and monolinguals appear to have developed adultlike perception and production of voicing at a younger age than their bilingual peers.

An illustration of speech articulation impairment in children with cerebral palsy tested by the Goldman-Fristoe method

Seventy percent of children with cerebral palsy were found to suffer from speech articulation impairment. The purpose of this research was to obtain an illustration of speech articulation impair­ment in children with cerebral palsy tested by the Goldman-Fristoe method at the SLB-D School for Dis­abled Children Bandung in 2007. This was a descriptive research. Sampling was carried out by purposive sampling. The speech articulation impairment test was carried out on the basis of the Goldman-Fristoe method, that is, an articulation test which places the consonant at the beginning, middle, and at the end of a word, to test speech articulation impairment in children with cerebral palsy. Research results indicated that speech articulation impairment in the bilabial consonants /p/,/b/, and /m/ is the average 85.51%. Speech articulation impairment of the labiodental consonants /f/ and /v/ is an average 89.13%. Speech articulation impairment of the alveolar or dental consonants /t/ and /d/ is an average of 80.43%. Speech articulation impairment in the palatal consonants /c/ is an average of 82.60%. Speech articulation impairment in velar consonants /k/ and glottal consonants /h/ is an average of 86.96%. Re­search results indicated that more than three-fourths of children with cerebral palsy at the SLB-D School for Disabled Children Bandung in 2007 suffered from speech articulation impairment.

Some Problems on the Emergence of Dentilabialization

The dentilabialization of bilabial initial consonants in Middle Chinese is one of the important phonemic changes in the Tang Period. The condition for this change was that the word must have (1) a semivowel medial /i/ and (2) a main back vowel. The phonetic effect of (2) is that, as Chao (1940) has pointed out, a retracted position of the jaw would bring about the dentilabial contact, and the effect of (1) is that the palatalization of the consonant would enlarge the width of the contact. The fact that nasal /m/ in the rimes Dong III (東三) and You (尤) exceptionally did not receive dentilabialization could be explained by assuming a phonetic weakening of /i/ under the assimilation of rounded endings /wŋ/ and /u/. In the Wu and the Yue dialects /m/ generally was not dentilabialized. This may be related with the fact that these southern dialects have never experienced denazalization of nasal initials as in the Mandarin dialects. The dentilabialization in the phonemic sense should be regarded as a result of the merging of main vowels occurred in the middle of the Tang period.

Listeners recover /t/s that speakers reduce: Evidence from /t/-lenition in Dutch

In everyday speech, words may be reduced. Little is known about the consequences of such reductions for spoken word comprehension. This study investigated /t/-lenition in Dutch in two corpus studies and three perceptual experiments. The production studies revealed that /t/-lenition is most likely to occur after [s] and before bilabial consonants. The perception experiments showed that listeners take into account both phonological context, phonetic detail, and the lexical status of the form in the interpretation of codas that may or may not contain a lenited word-final /t/. These results speak against models of word recognition that make hard decisions on a prelexical level.

Aural Habilitation Update: The Role of Speech Production Skills of Infants and Children With Hearing Loss

Aural Habilitation Update: The Role of Speech Production Skills of Infants and Children With Hearing Loss