This study investigated the effect of speaking rate on aerodynamic and acoustic measures of velopharyngeal (VP) function in 27 adult speakers (14 M, 13 F). The pressure-flow method (Warren & Dubois, 1964) was used to collect aerodynamic data of /m/ and /p/ segments in the word “hamper” and the utterances “Mama made some lemon jam” (MMJ) and “Buy Bobby a puppy” (BBP). A Nasometer was used to collect nasalance scores and nasalance distance for MMJ and BBP. Measures were collected under 4 speaking rate conditions (normal, fast, slow, and slowest). Results indicated that nasal airflow and VP orifice area were unaffected by speaking rate whereas intraoral pressure decreased as speaking rate slowed. Nasalance was greater for BBP at slow speaking rates and nasalance distance (MMJ – BBP) decreased at slow rates. The data was interpreted with respect to expectations set forward in the literature on normal and disordered speech motor control.

This study investigated the effect of speaking rate on aerodynamic and acoustic measures of velopharyngeal (VP) function in 27 adult speakers (14 M, 13 F). The pressure-flow method (Warren & Dubois, 1964) was used to collect aerodynamic data of /m/ and /p/ segments in the word “hamper” and the utterances “Mama made some lemon jam” (MMJ) and “Buy Bobby a puppy” (BBP). A Nasometer was used to collect nasalance scores and nasalance distance for MMJ and BBP. Measures were collected under 4 speaking rate conditions (normal, fast, slow, and slowest). Results indicated that nasal airflow and VP orifice area were unaffected by speaking rate whereas intraoral pressure decreased as speaking rate slowed. Nasalance was greater for BBP at slow speaking rates and nasalance distance (MMJ – BBP) decreased at slow rates. The data was interpreted with respect to expectations set forward in the literature on normal and disordered speech motor control.

Une étude aérodynamique, fibroscopique, acoustique et perceptive a été menée sur les voyelles nasales du français. Les résultats aérodynamiques montrent que la propagation du débit d'air nasal est plutôt progressive que régressive, cette tendance s'amenuise en parole "spontanée". Les résultats fibroscopiques confirment que les mouvements vélaires commencent avant le début de la voyelle. Ils peuvent se terminer avant la voyelle nasale, notamment en parole "spontanée". Les données aérodynamiques couplées aux données fibroscopiques suggèrent qu'il n'existe pas une ouverture vélaire précise pour laquelle l'air va passer dans le conduit nasal. Les données acoustiques montrent qu'il existe une corrélation entre le débit d'air nasal et le signal acoustique pour les voyelles [2A] et [2E], la corrélation entre le signal acoustique et les mouvements vélaires n'existe pas. Les résultats des tests de perception suggèrent que le débit d'air nasal n'est pas l'indice principal pour discriminer la voyelle nasale.