Phonetics: The Basics of Acoustic Phonetics 1.2

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This exercise will help you better understand the ways in which acoustic features of sound are measured and analyzed. For each item, decide whether the statement is true or false.

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Question 1

“Loudness” illustrates the degree to which air particles deviate.

A	False Hint: “Loudness,” conveyed in decibels (dB), is indicated by the amplitude of a waveform, and illustrates the degree to which air particles deviate.
B	True Hint: Correct! “Loudness,” conveyed in decibels (dB), is indicated by the amplitude of a waveform, and illustrates the degree to which air particles deviate.

Question 2

The term ‘rarefication’ refers to how air molecules are compressed to create waveforms.

A	True Hint: ‘Rarefication’ refers to the opposite effect of compression of air molecules, thus the sparsity, or thinning out of air molecules. Waveforms are created by the repeated cycles of rarefication and compression of air molecules, which causes changes in the air pressure.
B	False Hint: Correct! ‘Rarefication’ refers to the opposite effect of compression of air molecules, thus the sparsity, or thinning out of air molecules. Waveforms are created by the repeated cycles of rarefication and compression of air molecules, which causes changes in the air pressure.

Question 3

The positioning of the articulators in relation to each other changes the size and shape of the vocal tract, which causes variations in the visual cues on a spectrogram.

A	False Hint: Spectrograms can actually be ‘read’ by the patterns that the production of each sound displays.
B	True Hint: Correct! Spectrograms can actually be ‘read’ by the patterns that the production of each sound displays.

Question 4

The fundamental frequency (f0), is the lowest frequency produced in a sound wave.

A	False Hint: The f0 specifically reflects the vibration of the vocal folds.
B	True Hint: Correct! The f0 specifically reflects the vibration of the vocal folds.

Question 5

Aperiodic continuous sounds are represented by irregular waveforms and display plosive-type sounds, as in the production of phonemes such as [p, t, k].

A	True Hint: Transient sounds are represented by irregular waveforms and display plosive-type sounds, whereas aperiodic continuous sounds, such as fricatives, are characterized by high acoustic frequency and amplitude.
B	False Hint: Correct! Transient sounds are represented by irregular waveforms and display plosive-type sounds, whereas aperiodic continuous sounds, such as fricatives, are characterized by high acoustic frequency and amplitude.

Question 6

The frequency of a sound wave is measured by the height of crests (compression) and the depth of troughs (rarefaction) in relation to the baseline of each cycle.

A	False Hint: Correct! It is the amplitude that is measured by the height and depth of the sound wave.
B	True Hint: It is the amplitude that is measured by the height and depth of the sound wave.

Question 7

Complete repetitions, or cycles, within the waveform, indicate the number of times the vocal folds have opened within the specified timeframe.

A	True Hint: Correct! The number of ‘cycles’ (repetitions of crests and troughs) in a waveform reflects or mirrors the opening and closing of the vocal folds over a specific timeframe.
B	False Hint: The number of ‘cycles’ (repetitions of crests and troughs) in a waveform reflects or mirrors the opening and closing of the vocal folds over a specific timeframe.

Question 8

The vocal tract produces forced resonances – amplified frequencies – and these are referred to as dissonances.

A	False Hint: Correct! Harmonics are produced by the vocal tract and are referred to as natural resonances.
B	True Hint: Harmonics are produced by the vocal tract and are referred to as natural resonances.

Question 9

The calculation of frequency consists of the number of cycles per second.

A	True Hint: Correct! There is a formula acoustic phoneticians use for calculating the frequency of a waveform. frequency (Hz) = number of cycles / time (in seconds)
B	False Hint: There is a formula acoustic phoneticians use for calculating the frequency of a waveform. frequency (Hz) = number of cycles / time (in seconds)

Question 10

The crests correspond with of the molecules within the medium through which the sound is traveling. The repetition of the rarefaction and compression of sound waves occurs in both periodic and aperiodic waves.

A	True Hint: The repetition of the rarefaction and compression of sound waves occurs in all periodic waves, but not aperiodic waves.
B	False Hint: Correct! The repetition of the rarefaction and compression of sound waves occurs in all periodic waves, but not aperiodic waves.

Question 11

Voiced sounds are periodic, or regular and repetitive.

A	True Hint: Correct! Voiced sounds are characterized by formants, dark horizontal sections of the sound waves which show the natural resonances of the vocal tract.
B	False Hint: Voiced sounds are characterized by formants, dark horizontal sections of the sound waves which show the natural resonances of the vocal tract.

Question 12

Sine waves are made up of complex waves and have irregular, non-repetitive patterns within the waveform.

A	True Hint: Complex waves are made up of two or more sine waves, which have simple, regular, repeating patterns in the waveform.
B	False Hint: Correct! complex waves are made up of two or more sine waves, which have simple, regular, repeating patterns in the waveform)

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Phonetics: The Basics of Acoustic Phonetics 1.2

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