The Source Filter Model of Speech Production

IDevice Icon Objectives

The aim of this section is to familiarize you with the basic way inwhich speech sound are produced.

On successful completion of this topic you will be able to:

  • Give a basic description of the source-filter model of speech production.

IDevice Icon Activity

Media (13 minutes) Video

Watch this presentation about the source filter model of speechproduction, and then try to answer the questions below. A pdf file ofthe slides is available here.


IDevice Question Icon Multi-choice
1. What causes the periodic fluctuations in air pressure for a voiced sound(i.e. what is the source of excitation)?
       
Air being pushed out of the lungs
Air flow being chopped up by the periodic opening and closing of the vocal folds
The articulators coming close together, but not closing completely
The soft palate lowering

2. What is the collective term for the parts of the vocal tract thatmove around in order to produce different sounds?
  
Articulators
Lips
Tongue
Velum

3. The phonemes /b/, /d/ and /k/ are all what sort of sounds?
       
Nasal
Voiced
Plosive or Stops
Fricatives

4. The phonemes /f/ and /z/ differ in both ...?
  
Voicing and Manner
Voicing and Place
Manner and Place

5. Is it possible to produce a voiceless nasal sound?
  
Yes
No

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(c) Dr Richard J Baker, School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester