A method for finding constrictions in high front vowels

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to devise a consistent and robust method for defining vocal tract constrictions in high front vowels. A procedure was devised to find the length and position of the articulatory constriction in high front vowels that is not sensitive to local fluctuations in vocal tract shape and to the constriction-defining parameters. A method based on a visual examination of plots for constriction length and position as functions of the constriction-defining parameters was found to provide stable constriction definitions.