Three-dimensional dynamic speech imaging is possible with full-vocal-tract coverage, high spatial resolution and high nominal frame rate to provide dynamic speech data useful for phonetic studies. Magn Reson Med 77:1619-1629, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

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Dynamic speech magnetic resonance imaging (DSMRI) is a promising technique for visualizing articulatory motion in real time. However, many existing applications of DSMRI have been limited by slow imaging speed and the lack of quantitative motion analysis. In this paper, we present a novel DS-MRI technique to simultaneously estimate dynamic image sequence of speech and the associated deformation field. Extending on our previous Partial Separability (PS) model-based methods, the proposed technique visualizes both speech motion and deformation with a spatial resolution of 2.2 × 2.2 mm(2) and a nominal frame rate of 100 fps. Also, the technique enables direct analysis of articulatory motion through the deformation fields. Effectiveness of the method is systematically examined via in vivo experiments. Utilizing the obtained high-resolution images and deformation fields, we also performed a phonetics study on Brazilian Portuguese to show the method's practical utility.

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Pharyngealized speech sounds in Arabic are articulated with a secondary posterior constriction and a lowered tongue body. This articulatory configuration spreads to adjacent and neighboring segments and has the acoustic consequence of lowering F2 in affected vowels. This study demonstrates that real-time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rtMRI) can be successfully used to examine the role of (1) vowel length and (2) direction of spread in the extent of the articulatory modifications that occur in the segments to which pharyngealization spreads. Parallel acoustic measurements are also acquired to examine and compare the extent of modifications in formant frequencies. Results from both articulatory and acoustic data demonstrate that the extent of pharyngealization spread significantly varies with respect to these two factors.