Spectral-envelope and group-delay models for transient signals—applications to castanets and stop consonants

We present a novel approach to represent transients using spectral-domain amplitude-modulated/frequency -modulated (AM-FM) functions. The model is applied to the real and imaginary parts of the Fourier transform (FT) of the transient. The suitability of the model lies in the observation that since transients are well-localized in time, the real and imaginary parts of the Fourier spectrum have a modulation structure. The spectral AM is the envelope and the spectral FM is the group delay function. The group delay is estimated using spectral zero-crossings and the spectral envelope is estimated using a coherent demodulator. We show that the proposed technique is robust to additive noise. We present applications of the proposed technique to castanets and stop-consonants in speech.

Parallel Auditory Filtering By Sustained and Transient Channels Separates Coarticulated Vowels and Consonants

A neural model of peripheral auditory processing is described and used to separate features of coarticulated vowels and consonants. After preprocessing of speech via a filterbank, the model splits into two parallel channels, a sustained channel and a transient channel. The sustained channel is sensitive to relatively stable parts of the speech waveform, notably synchronous properties of the vocalic portion of the stimulus it extends the dynamic range of eighth nerve filters using coincidence deteectors that combine operations of raising to a power, rectification, delay, multiplication, time averaging, and preemphasis. The transient channel is sensitive to critical features at the onsets and offsets of speech segments. It is built up from fast excitatory neurons that are modulated by slow inhibitory interneurons. These units are combined over high frequency and low frequency ranges using operations of rectification, normalization, multiplicative gating, and opponent processing. Detectors sensitive to frication and to onset or offset of stop consonants and vowels are described. Model properties are characterized by mathematical analysis and computer simulations. Neural analogs of model cells in the cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus are noted, as are psychophysical data about perception of CV syllables that may be explained by the sustained transient channel hypothesis. The proposed sustained and transient processing seems to be an auditory analog of the sustained and transient processing that is known to occur in vision.

Difficulties for Vietnamese when pronouncing English : Final Consonants

Vietnamese people have many difficulties when pronouncing English. Among those, this paper will firstly deal with the hypothesis “English word-final consonants are not pronounced in a native-like way by Vietnamese speakers”. Theoretical phonological research about final consonants in the Vietnamese language and English has been carried out to characterize the difficulties. Data from Vietnamese informants were collected and analyzed, then synthesized to the most significant problems. Vietnamese effort to pronounce English word-final consonants will be towards omitting, adding schwa or replacing by sounds closer to those existing in their mother-tongue. Results of native speakers’ evaluation of Vietnamese-accented final consonants are also concluded to clarify how comprehensible informants’ pronunciation is. These findings will hopefully be useful for those who are interested in the topic and for further research.

Relative durations of post-vocalic consonants in readaloud Spanish by native Swedish L2-learners

Prosody is said to be a persistent feature in foreign accents, particularly in the speech of adult learners. Native Swedish speakers have been reported to lengthen vowels in Spanish as well as post-vocalic consonants in English and German, more than native speakers of the respective languages. The aim of the present study is to examine whether native Swedish learners of Spanish produce increased postvocalic consonant durations in a reading aloud exercise. The text contains certain words that could be expected to trigger complementary consonant lengthening in native Swedish speakers. The result shows that there is no general tendency for native Swedes to lengthen post-vocalic consonants more than native speakers of Spanish in the present speech material. There are examples of longer consonant durations in the speech of the native,Swedish subjects, but it could be a coincidence. A conclusion is that the text used in the study, and probably Spanish as a language, contains few words that are ideal for triggering lengthening of post-vocalic consonants in native Swedish speakers.

Characteristics of fricatives consonants orthography in Brazilian children

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Characteristics of the acquisition of sonorant consonants orthography in Brazilian children from a São Paulo municipality

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Boyer's French dictionary: comprising all the additions and improvements of the latest Paris and London editions, with a very large number of useful words and phrases, now first selected from the modern dictionaries of Boiste, Wailly, Catineau, and others; with the pronunciation of each word, according to the dictionary of the Abbé Tardy: to which are prefixed, rules for the pronunciation of French vowels, diphthongs, and final consonants, chiefly collected from the prosody of the Abbé d'Olivet, with a table of French verbs, &c.

Acompañado de: An English-French dictionary, designed as a second part to the Boston edition of Boyer's French dictionary, with Tardy's pronunciation.

Boyer's French dictionary : comprising all the additions and improvements of the latest Paris and London editions ... with the pronunciation of each word according to the dictionary of the Abbé Tardy, to which are prefixed rules for the pronunciation of French vowels, diphthongs, and final consonants chiefly collected from the prosody of the Abbé D'Olivet, with a table of French verbs, &c.

The second part (250 p.) has title: An English-French dictionary, designed as the second part to the Boston edition of Boyer's French dictionary, with Tardy's pronunciation.

Boyer's French dictionary; comprising all the additions and improvements of the latest Paris and London editions, with a very large number of useful words and phrases, now first selected from the modern dictionaries of Boiste, Wailly, Catineau, and others; with the pronunciation of each word, according to the dictionary of the Abbé Tardy: to which are prefixed, rules for the pronunciation of French vowels, diphthongs, and final consonants, chiefly collected from the prosody of the Abbé D'Olivet, with a table of French verbs, &c.

Edited by William Bentley Fowle.

Boyer's French dictionary; comprising all the improvements of the latest Paris and London editions, with a very large number of useful words and phrases, now first selected from the modern dictionaries of Boiste, Wailly, Catineau, and others; with the pronunciation of each word, according to the dictionary of the Abbé Yardy: to which are prefixed, rules for the pronunciation of French vowels, diphthongs, and final consonants, chiefly collected from the prosody of the Abbé D'Olivet, with a table of French verbs, &c.

[Vol. 2] has t.p.: An English-French dictionary, designed as a second part to the Boston edition of Boyer's French dictionary , with Tardy's pronunciation.

Boyer's French dictionary : comprising all the improvements of the latest Paris and London editions, with a large number of useful words and phrases, selected from the modern dictionaries of Boiste, Wailly, Catineau, and others, with the pronunciation of each word, according to the dictionary of the Abbé Tardy. To which are prefixed Rules for the pronunciation of French vowels, diphthongs, and final consonants, collected from the prosody of the Abbé D'Olivet, with a table of French verbs, &c.

Vol. 2 has title: An English-French dictionary designed as a second part to the Boston edition of Boyer's French dictionary, with Tardy's pronunciation.

Etymologicon universale: or, Universal etymological dictionary. On a new plan. In which it is shewn, that consonants are alone to be regarded in discovering the affinities of words, and that the vowels are to be wholly rejected; that languages contain the same fundamental idea; and that they are derived from the earth, and the operations, accidents, and properties belonging to it. /

Not a continuation of the author's "Etymologicon magnum."

Articulation diagrams of English vowels and English consonants (especially for teachers of English as a foreign language)

Mode of access: Internet.