F2 Slope and Closure Duration Measured Using an Oral Palatal Sensor for Determining Tongue Strength

초록

This study investigated the relationship between tongue strength and acoustic features using a custom-made oralpalatal sensor. Participants were asked to pronounce nine monosyllabic words composed of different articulation positions (alveolar,alveolar-palatal, velar) and consonant strengths (plain, tense, aspirated). The F2 slope and closure duration were measured usingspeech recordings, while tongue pressure was evaluated using an Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). Results showed thattense consonants, which require stronger tongue–palate contact, exhibited significantly steeper F2 slopes and shorter closure durationsthan plain and aspirated consonants. Additionally, tongue pressure and F2 slope were highest in consonants articulated with thetongue tip (alveolar position). These findings suggest that the F2 slope and closure duration can serve as non-invasive, acousticmarkers for estimating tongue strength during speech production. This approach may aid in evaluating articulatory function anddesigning rehabilitative technologies for individuals with speech or neuromuscular disorders.

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