This dissertation is aimed at investigating the impact of postural changes within speakers on the acoustic speech signal to complement research on articulatory changes under the same conditions. The research is therefore relevant for forensic phonetics, where quantifying within-speaker variation is vital for the accuracy of speaker comparison. To this end, two acoustic studies were carried out to quantify the influence of five head positions and three body orientations on the acoustic speech signal. Results show that there is a consistent change in the third formant, a change which was most evident in the body orientation measurements, and to a lesser extent in the head position data. Analysis of the results with respect to compensation strategies indicates that speakers employ different strategies to compensate for these perturbations to their vocal tract. Some speakers did not exhibit large differences in their speech signal, while others appeared to compensate much less. Across all speakers, the effect was much stronger in what were deemed ‘less natural’, postures. That is, speakers were apparently less able to predict and compensate for the impact of prone body orientation on their speech than for that of the more natural supine orientation. In addition to the acoustic studies, a perception experiment assessed whether listeners could make use of acoustic cues to determine the posture of the speaker. Stimuli were chosen with, by design, stronger or weaker acoustic cues to posture, in order to elicit a possible difference in identification performance. Listeners were nevertheless not able to identify above chance whether a speaker was sitting or lying in prone body orientation even when hearing the set with stronger cues. Further combined articulatory and acoustic research will have to be carried out to disentangle which articulatory behaviours correlate with the acoustic changes presented in order to draw a more comprehensive picture of the effects of postural variation on speech.

This thesis documents the creation of a three-dimensional model of the larynx. The focus is on synthesizing the movement and appearance of laryngeal and pharyngeal sounds, with the intention of elucidating the physiological performance required of the larynx to produce these articulations. The model serves three primary purposes: the analysis of laryngeal articulation, an interactive tool for learning about linguistically relevant anatomy, and a foundation for future modeling developments such as acoustic synthesis. There are two methodological topics of discussion concerning the techniques used to generate the three-dimensional model of the larynx. The first concerns the morphological aspect of the laryngeal architecture. Laryngeal structures were segmented from a series of histological images using a process known as vertex tracing to generate wire-frame computer representations, or meshes, of the laryngeal structures featured in the model. The meshes were then carefully placed within the three-dimensional space used to generate a scene of the larynx that could be rendered and presented to the user of the program. Frame hierarchies, an organization scheme for vertices, were imposed on flexible tissue meshes to attach and manipulate various moving structures found in the larynx. Finally, basic mechanical features of laryngeal movement derived from research into the biomechanics of laryngeal physiology were implemented. The second methodological topic pertains to the analysis of laryngoscopic videos to obtain data that describes the movement patterns used to generate the laryngeal and pharyngeal articulations of interest. There are three image analysis techniques applied to the laryngoscopy. The first uses normal speed laryngoscopy to assess end-state articulations, by comparing various geometrical aspects of laryngeal landmarks as they differ between the maximally open setting (used for deep inspiration), and the articulatory target setting. With this technique, various phonation types and segmental articulations are assessed using videos of a phonetician carefully performing the articulations. Some comparison of these articulations to their analogues in the speech of native speakers from various languages is made for the sake of illustration and verification. The second image analysis technique used is applied to high-speed laryngoscopic video of aryepiglottic trilling, which is an important function of the laryngeal constrictor mechanism. The left and right aryepiglottic apertures during trilling are analyzed using binary-conversion and area measurement. The third technique takes the same high-speed laryngoscopic video of aryepiglottic trilling and extracts motion vectors between frame pairs to characterize the directionality and magnitude of motion occurring for each of the folds. Using the image analysis data, model movements are constrained and synchronized to recreate the articulations observed in the laryngoscopic videos. One of the major innovations of this model is a biomechanical simulation of aryepiglottic fold trilling, based primarily upon the data collected from the high-speed laryngoscopic videos. Overall the model represents one of the first attempts to visually recreate laryngeal articulatory function in a way that is dynamic and interactive. Future work will involve dynamic acoustic synthesis for laryngeal states represented by the model.

This dissertation argues that the affrication of /t/ and /d/ before /ɹ/ is an active sound change in progress that has been phonologized. Despite numerous references to it in the literature, no experimental work has been undertaken to investigate the phenomenon. This dissertation aims to fill that gap. Conducted over three separate studies, the research presented in subsequent chapters explores three specific questions: Q1: Apparent Time Study – Is the phenomenon of /tɹ/ and /dɹ/ affrication in English a sound change in progress? Q2: Production Study – Are English /t/ and /d/ in /tɹ/ and /dɹ/ clusters articulated like prevocalic [t] and [d], like prevocalic [tʃ] and [dʒ], like neither, or like both? Q3: Perception Study – Do English speakers categorize affricated variants of /t/ found in /tɹ/ clusters as T or CH? Chapter 2 presents results from an Apparent Time Study, which examines sociolinguistic interview data from a corpus of Raleigh, North Carolina English speakers of different ages, all born in the 20th century. The Raleigh corpus is considered to be a suitable choice for conducting this investigation for several reasons. First, it is expected that the phonetic motivation for /tɹ/ and /dɹ/ affrication will be present in any English-speaking community. Second, Raleigh experienced an influx of technology workers to the area from Northern regions of the United States in the middle of the 20th century, following the development of Research Triangle Park (RTP), making it plausible that the resulting dialect contact may have led to the introduction of novel affricated variants to the region. Third, /tɹ/ affrication has been implicated in s-retraction (in /stɹ/ clusters), which is a sound change in progress that has been reported in Raleigh English. The Apparent Time Study aims to determine whether /tɹ/ and /dɹ/ affrication, if present, is a sound change in progress and/or whether the emergence of affricated variants may have been the result of dialect contact. Building on these findings, Chapter 3 presents results from a Production Study conducted in Raleigh, North Carolina, which captures audio, ultrasound, and video data in order to investigate how English speakers’ /tɹ/ and /dɹ/ sequences are coarticulated. The Production Study provides an opportunity to find out how affricated variants of /t/ and /d/ before /ɹ/ are articulated. Chapter 4 presents results from a Perception Study, which explores how listeners (from the Production Study) categorize affricated variants of /t/ spliced from before /ɹ/. Chapter 5 compares results from across studies, and Chapter 6 provides a general discussion and conclusion.

In the light of the Theory of Variation and Change and Generative Phonology, in this study, aims to investigate the performance of a segment /R/ in the community of Porto da Rua (in the northern coast of Alagoas). The phonetic environment in which this realization occurs was determined, as well as the influence of extralinguistic factors analysed. The corpus for this research consisted of 48 informants among men and women born in the community. The categorization of data and statistical analysis were done using the package VARBRUL. Data were coded according to linguistic and social groups of factors (GF). The results indicated that the variant under study may be undergoing a process of linguistic change, since those responsible for spreading the informants are not in school and age over 50 years. Data collection was done through recordings with spontaneous narratives. The objective is thus to study the correlation between linguistic phenomena and stratified external variables (gender, age and education). / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / À luz da Teoria da Variação e Mudança e da Fonologia gerativa, pretendeu-se, neste estudo, investigar a realização de um segmento /R/ na comunidade de Porto da Rua (litoral norte de Alagoas). Determinamos o ambiente fonético em que essa realização ocorre e verificamos a influência de fatores extralinguísticos. O corpus para a pesquisa constituiu-se de dados de fala, gravados em áudio, de textos espontâneos produzidos por 48 informantes, homens e mulheres nascidos (e que viveram sempre) na comunidade. A categorização dos dados e a análise estatística foram feitas com a utilização do pacote VARBRUL. Os dados foram codificados de acordo com grupos de fatores (GF) linguísticos e sociais. Objetivou-se, dessa forma, estudar a correlação entre fenômenos linguísticos e variáveis externas estratificadas (sexo, faixa etária e escolarização). Os resultados indicaram que a variante em estudo pode estar passando por um processo de mudança linguística, uma vez que os responsáveis pela sua realização são os informantes não escolarizados e a faixa etária com mais de 50 anos.

Ce travail se focalise sur le parler du tarifit de la province de Nador, afin d’étudier la gémination dans cette variante du berbère, parlée au Maroc. Il s’agit d’une investigation articulatoire cinéradiographique et acoustique. Un aperçu général du système phonologique du tarifit est proposé. Dans la revue critique de l’état de la question, nous avons tenté, d’abord, de montrer les différents arguments relatifs à la représentation des géminées en un seul segment ou en une suite de deux segments. Nous avons ensuite évoqué les débats contradictoires sur les notions de tension et de gémination. Notre recherche est conduite dans le cadre du paradigme de la perturbation et des réajustements, en variant la vitesse d’élocution. Les résultats principaux dans le domaine acoustique montrent, pour toutes les consonnes, simples et géminées, produites en vitesse d'élocution normale ou rapide, que la durée de la tenue consonantique est l’indice principal qui permet de les distinguer. Au niveau articulatoire, l’étude du timing des paramètres articulatoires indique, entre autres, que c’est le contact apical, vélaire et uvulaire, plus long pour la géminée, qui est le paramètre préférentiel de la distinction phonologique simple vs. géminée. L’analyse des vues de profil donne les résultats suivants en ce qui concerne l’étendue de contact (mm) : a) l’étendue de contact des occlusives est systématiquement plus importante pour les géminées que pour les simples ; b) l’étendue de contact augmente de la consonne apical, au vélaire (réalisée plutôt palatale), puis à l’uvulaire. Les résultats sont discutés en termes de relations articulatori - acoustiques. / This work focuses on tarifit of the provinces of Nador, in order to study gemination in this variant of Berber spoken in Morocco. This is an acoustic and articulatory X-ray investigation. A general overview of the tarifit phonological system is proposed. In a critical review of the literature, we tried, first, to show the different arguments concerning representation of geminates as one or as a sequence of two segments. We then discussed the contradictory debates on the concepts of tension and gemination. Our research is carried out within the perturbation and readjustments paradigm, by varying speech rates. Main results in the acoustic domain show for all consonants, singletons and geminates, produced in normal or fast speech, that consonantal closure is the main cue that allows distinguishing them. On the articulatory level, the study of the timing of articulatory parameters indicates, among other things, that it is the apical, velar and uvular contact, longer for geminates, which is the preferred parameter of the singleton vs. geminate phonological distinction. Analysis of profile views gives the following results regarding contact extent (mm) : a) contact extent for plosives are systematically larger for geminates than for singletons ; b) contact extent increases as one goes from the apical consonant to the velar (rather palatal) consonant, then to the uvular consonant. Results are discussed in terms of articulatory - acoustic relations.

This dissertation focuses on the contributions of Phonetics in the teaching and learning processes of languages pronunciation in Singing. For that, it investigates a teaching proposal based on this discipline of Linguistics, the Phonetics, with emphasis on articulation and representation of speech sounds - the Articulatory Phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) in practice, the phonetic transcription. It is based on the literature on Phonetics and Phonology, in the Linguistics area, on the Teaching of Languages, in the Applied Linguistics, and on the Diction for Singers, in the Arts - specifically, the field of Music, singing. Based on the diagnosis made on the subject of Diction in technical and undergraduate courses of Singing in institutions in the triangle region of Minas Gerais, it reflects and suggests changes on didactic and pedagogical aspects, related to the training of singers and singing teachers. It intends to contribute with theoretical reflections, teaching materials and methodological approaches for the teaching of pronunciation of the major languages in the classical repertoire performed in Brazil. / Esta dissertação centra-se nas contribuições da Fonética no processo ensino e aprendizagem da pronúncia de línguas no Canto. Para isto, investiga uma proposta de ensino elaborada com base nesta disciplina da Linguística, a Fonética, com ênfase na articulação e representação dos sons da fala a Fonética Articulatória e o Alfabeto Fonético Internacional (AFI) em sua prática, a transcrição fonética. Fundamenta-se em literaturas sobre Fonética e Fonologia, da área de Linguística, sobre o Ensino de Línguas, da Linguística Aplicada e, sobre Dicção para Cantores, das Artes especificamente, da subárea Música, o instrumento Canto. Com base no diagnóstico da disciplina Dicção em cursos técnicos e graduação em Canto de algumas instituições na região do Triângulo Mineiro, reflete e sugere mudanças de aspectos didáticos e pedagógicos, em função da formação de cantores professores de Canto. Pretende contribuir com reflexões teóricas, material didático e abordagens para o ensino da pronúncia das principais línguas do repertório erudito praticado no Brasil. / Mestre em Artes