PHO104 - Airstream Mechanisms

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of airstream mechanisms used in speech production. Understanding these mechanisms—pulmonic, glottalic, and velaric—will enhance your knowledge of how various speech sounds are articulated. This information is especially relevant for linguists, speech therapists, and language enthusiasts interested in phonetics.

Step 1: Understand Pulmonic Airstream Mechanism

• Definition: Pulmonic airstreams are produced by the movement of air from the lungs.
• How it works:
  1. Inhalation: The diaphragm contracts, allowing air to fill the lungs.
  2. Exhalation: Air is pushed out of the lungs through the vocal tract.
• Practical Advice:
  • Practice by producing common sounds like vowels and consonants (e.g., /a/, /p/).
  • Focus on controlling your breath to maintain sound quality.

Step 2: Explore Glottalic Airstream Mechanism

• Definition: Glottalic airstreams are created by the movement of the glottis (the space between the vocal cords).
• How it works:
  1. Closure: The vocal cords close, trapping air in the vocal tract.
  2. Release: The glottis quickly opens to create a burst of sound.
• Practical Advice:
  • Experiment with producing ejective sounds like /p’/ or /t’/ by closing your throat and forcing air out.
  • Ensure your vocal cords are fully closed before releasing to maximize sound clarity.

Step 3: Investigate Velaric Airstream Mechanism

• Definition: Velaric airstreams are produced by using the tongue against the velum (the soft part of the roof of the mouth).
• How it works:
  1. Closure: The back of the tongue creates a seal against the velum.
  2. Rarefaction: The tongue is then lowered, creating a negative pressure that pulls air in.
  3. Release: The tongue is released to create a sound.
• Practical Advice:
  • Try to produce clicks like /ʘ/ (bilabial click) or /ǃ/ (dental click) by placing your tongue against the velum and releasing it quickly.
  • Practice different click sounds by varying the position of your tongue.

Step 4: Articulate Non-Pulmonic Speech Sounds

• Overview: Non-pulmonic sounds can be categorized based on the airstream mechanism used.
• Types:
  1. Ejectives: Produced with glottalic airstream (e.g., /k’/, /p’/).
  2. Clicks: Produced with velaric airstream (e.g., /ǃ/, /ǁ/).
• Practical Advice:
  • Record yourself producing these sounds to evaluate clarity and control.
  • Engage in exercises to differentiate between pulmonic and non-pulmonic sounds.

Conclusion

Understanding the different airstream mechanisms is crucial for analyzing speech production. By practicing pulmonic, glottalic, and velaric sounds, you will enhance your phonetic skills. Consider continuing your exploration by studying more complex sound patterns and their applications in various languages.