Zwischenmündliche

Zwischenmündliche refers to a concept within German linguistics, specifically concerning the articulation of sounds. It describes the transitional phases of speech production where the mouth is not fully open or closed, nor is it in a stable position for a specific vowel or consonant. These are the fleeting moments between distinct speech sounds where the articulators (lips, tongue, jaw) are moving from one position to another.

This concept is particularly relevant when analyzing the acoustic properties of speech. The acoustic signals generated during these transitional periods often carry important information about the surrounding sounds, contributing to the perception of fluent and natural speech. While not typically considered distinct phonemes themselves, these intermediate articulations play a crucial role in the continuous flow of spoken language. Understanding zwischenmündliche phenomena helps in areas such as speech synthesis, speech recognition, and phonetic analysis. It highlights the dynamic nature of articulation, emphasizing that speech is a continuous process rather than a sequence of discrete, isolated sounds.