A "bdg" continuum
created with the Pattern Playback
Select one of the syllables above to hear the sound generated by the Pattern Playback based on the
formant pattern in the picture, or listen to the entire continuum.
More information or
back to the Pattern Playback home page
This page demonstrates a consonant-vowel syllable continuum that starts
with the sound
"bae", moves through
"dae" and ends up at
"gae". Each small box
contains a picture of a "syllable" pattern where the horizontal
axis represents time, the vertical axis represents frequency,
and darkness corresponds to energy.
These syllables were produced using the Pattern Playback by
hand-painting each of the carefully controlled patterns. Note that
in this example each syllable consists of two dark bands of energy.
These energy bands are called formants. The horizontal, steady-state
portions correspond to the vowel -- in this case, "ae". The frequency transitions
at the beginning of each syllable determine the consonant quality. In this
continuum, the lower band of energy (the first formant) is the same
for each syllable. The only thing that is changing is the second formant
transition. At the beginning of the continuum (
"bae", step -6) the second
formant starts much lower in frequency than the steady-state vowel portion.
By the middle of the continuum (step 0,
"dae"), there is no transition -- the second
formant is flat. At the end of the continuum (step 6,
"gae"),
the second formant transition starts much higher in frequency than the
steady-state vowel portion.
This continuum consists of 13 items. The onset of the second formant transition
is varied in equal frequency steps. The Pattern Playback provided an
experimental tool that for the first time let researchers systematically
control the important acoustic information in speech signals. In turn, these
researchers could then also evaluate the perceptual consequences of these
careful acoustic manipulations. In the example presented here we can see
the importance of the second formant transition in determining the
consonant identity.
Up to the continuum or
back to the Pattern Playback home page -- or --
To Haskins Front Door