H. Dotevall et al., AERODYNAMIC ASSESSMENT OF VELOPHARYNGEAL FUNCTION DURING NORMAL SPEECH CONTAINING DIFFERENT PLACES OF ARTICULATION, Folia phoniatrica et logopaedica, 50(2), 1998, pp. 53-63
The aim of this study was to describe the aerodynamics related to velo
pharyngeal function during speech in bilabial, dental, and velar artic
ulatory positions in Swedish speakers. Repeated syllables including vo
iceless stop consonants and sentences including combinations of voicel
ess stops and nasal consonants were uttered by Il normal adults. Oroph
aryngeal pressure was assessed with a miniature pressure transducer po
sitioned transnasally, in combination with measurement of nasal pressu
re and nasal airflow. The corresponding velopharyngeal opening area wa
s estimated. The results suggest that the velopharyngeal function duri
ng stop consonants is similar in different articulatory positions. Dif
ferences in oropharyngeal pressure and nasal airflow between bilabial
versus dental and velar positions were found, presumably due to differ
ences in volume and compliance of the vocal tract.