Respiratory Volumes in Normal Speech: A Possible Reason for Intraoral Pressure Differences among Voiced and Voiceless Consonants

Abstract

Respiratory volumes during phonation of a series of voiced and voiceless fricatives and plosives placed within a carrier phrase were measured in 20 normal adult subjects. The purpose was to (1) determine whether consonant type influences respiratory volume and (2) determine whether intraoral pressure differences among voiced-voiceless consonants could be a reflection of volume differences during speech. The results indicate that voiceless consonants utilize substantially larger volumes of air than their voiced cognates. The data also suggest that consonant intraoral pressures may be influenced more by intraoral respiratory volumes than by energy losses caused by glottal resistance during voicing.

Intraoral Air Pressure Discrimination by Normal-Speaking Subjects

“…Several investigators have shown that for the production of oral consonants, normal speakers typically generate levels of intra oral (supraglottal) air pressures within the mean range of 3.0-6.0 cm H20 [Arkebauer et al, 1967;Warren and Wood. 1969;Brown et al, 1970].…”

Study of Subglottal Air Pressure during Hindi Stop Consonants

“…Warren and Wood [ 1969] found substantially greater re spiratory volumes during word-initial voice less stops than voiced stops of English. This finding led them to raise the question '... as to whether it is correct to assume that glot tal resistance during voicing is the major reason for intraoral pressure differences among consonants'.…”

“…It has been argued that the respiratory system exerts greater expiratory force for the production of voiceless stops than voiced stops [Warren and Wood, 1969] and for the production of aspirated stops than unaspirated stops [Chomsky and Halle, 1968;Ladefoged et al, 1976]. Warren and Wood [ 1969] found substantially greater re spiratory volumes during word-initial voice less stops than voiced stops of English.…”

“…Since, most of the word initial so-called voiced stops of English are produced with out any prevoicing, Warren and Wood [1969] seem to have assumed that the glottis may not be closed during their occlusive phase; thus the subglottal and supraglottal cavities may be coupled during these stops as they are coupled during voiceless stops. In such a situation the differences between Ps and supraglottal pressures will be negli gible, if not nonexistent.…”

Oral Port Constriction and Pressure-Airflow Relationships during Sibilant Productions

“…air escape [Warren and Wood, 1969], There is evidence that the opening for fricatives does vary in size both within and among speakers, although the variations are small [Claypoole et al 1974: Klechak et al. 1976].…”