Artikulationszeit

Artikulationszeit refers to the duration of the speech sound production. It is a key acoustic parameter used in phonetics and speech science to analyze and distinguish between different speech sounds, particularly consonants. The concept is crucial in understanding how the articulatory organs are moved and positioned to create specific sounds, and how this movement translates into measurable acoustic signals.

Generally, Artikulationszeit can be divided into two main components: the closing phase and the opening phase. The closing phase involves the movement of articulators towards their target position, and the opening phase involves their movement away. The total time taken for these movements constitutes the Artikulationszeit. This duration can vary significantly depending on the specific sound being produced. For instance, stops like /p/, /t/, and /k/ typically have shorter Artikulationszeiten compared to fricatives like /s/ and /f/, which involve sustained airflow.

Variations in Artikulationszeit can also be indicative of different speech patterns, dialects, or even pathological conditions affecting speech production. Researchers use specialized equipment, such as sound spectrographs and articulography, to measure and analyze Artikulationszeit precisely. This measurement helps in understanding the fine details of speech articulation and its acoustic correlates, contributing to fields like speech recognition, speech synthesis, and the diagnosis of speech disorders.