MODELING AFFRICATE CONSONANTS

A model for the aerodynamics and acoustics of affricate consonants is developed. The model is used to predict the changing acoustic pattern that occurs during the 100-odd milliseconds following the release of a palato-alveolar affricate. Appropriate assumptions are made about rat es of release and dimensions of cavities in the anterior part of the v ocal tract. The calculated acoustic pattern includes an initial transi ent and an interval in which the frication noise undergoes changes in amplitude and spectrum as the tongue-tip constriction increases in siz e. Measurements of acoustic spectra following the release of naturally produced affricate consonants show good agreement with spectra predic ted from the model.