The Function of the Epiglottis in Speech

Abstract

We have investigated the movements of the epiglottis in speech by speakers of Hebrew. The epiglottis functions as an articulator in the production of pharyngeal consonants and in the vowel /a/. It is also involved in whisper. In pharyngeals, the epiglottis articulates against the posterior pharyngeal wall; the constriction varies from a full closure (pharyngeal stop) in some examples of /?/ in slow careful speech, through a narrow opening for the fricatives /h/ and other examples of /?/ in connected speech, to a fairly open glide in yet other examples of /?/ in rapid or casual style. In the vowel /a/, the opening between the pharynx and the epiglottis is of the same general shape as for the pharyngeal consonants, but larger. In the case of both consonants and /a/, however, the size of the opening is never large enough to pull the lateral edges of the epiglottis away from the posterior pharyngeal wall. That is, air passes only through a passage bounded by the epiglottis and the pharynx, and never escapes along the tongue root lateral to the epiglottis. The epiglottis folds toward the pharyngeal wall independently of the tongue root in consonants; this independence is seen in some cases of /a/ and not others; in whisper, the epiglottis is generally more retracted than in normal speech but otherwise moves as usual. Our conclusions are based on 100 minutes of videotape made using a fiberscope positioned in the upper pharynx, spectrograms, and dissections. We conclude that the epiglottis is an active, independent, and acoustically significant articulator.

When an Instructor Swears in Class: Functions and Targets of Instructor Swearing from College Students’ Retrospective Accounts

“…Research across disciplines has labeled swearing as dirty words (Jay, 1981), expletives (de Klerk, 1991, cursing (Jay & Janschewitz, 2007), obscenity (Fine & Johnson, 1984), and profanity (Cameron, 1969;Mabry, 1975). These labels engender an inherent taboo nature for swear words that produce negative perceptions.…”

“…These labels engender an inherent taboo nature for swear words that produce negative perceptions. Regardless of the label, however, the most integral component to the definition is connotation; the meaning and evaluation of swear words rely on individuals' personal connotations (Jay, 1981). Scholars have consistently noted that responses to swearing (i.e., physiological arousal, cognitive evaluation) depend upon three factors: the people in the interaction, their relationship, and the physical space (Jay & Janschewitz, 2008;Winters & Duck, 2001).…”

“…For years, scholars have attempted to create categories of particular swear words and three categories remain consistent: sexual, sacred=religious, and excretory (Cameron, 1969). Unfortunately, these denotative categories do not take into account the different connotations people maintain (Jay, 1981). Mabry (1975), for example, reported certain words (e.g., fuck) fell within multiple categories.…”

A Morphometric Study of Age-Related Changes in Adult Human Epiglottis Using Quantitative Digital Analysis of Cartilage Calcification

“…The epiglottis is a small leaf-shaped cartilage that projects upward behind the tongue and hyoid bone [Laufer, 1981]. During deglutition in particular, the epiglottis is well known to prevent food or liquids from entering the trachea.…”

Untersuchungen über das Schwingungsverhalten der Stimmlippen in verschiedenen Registerbereichen mit unterschiedlichen stroboskopischen Techniken

“…Dem kritischen Sänger kommen Zweifel, ob die derart gewonnenen Befunde überhaupt ver lässlich sind; aber auch in der Phoniatrie bestehen offensichtlich Bedenken, ob diese Befunde zu verallgemeinern sind, bemerkt hierzu doch schon der moderne Altmeister der Stroboskopie Schönhärl [17] [9]. Wir hatten den Eindruck, dass möglicherweise eine auch beim «a» freiere Glottis mit aufgerichtetem Kehldeckel mit einer gesanglich besseren Tonqualität korreliert, sind dieser Nebenbe obachtung jedoch im Rahmen dieser Unter suchung nicht näher gefolgt.…”