electropalatografie

Electropalatography (EPG) is a method used in linguistics and speech-language pathology to record tongue–palate contact patterns during speech. It uses a thin, custom-made dental plate worn on the palate containing a grid of electrodes. When the tongue makes contact with the palate, electrical currents are detected by the electrodes, producing a time-resolved map of contact events.

The plate is fitted to the upper jaw and connected to a control unit. Data are synchronized with audio and displayed as contact diagrams or sequences, typically showing which electrodes are in contact at each moment. Modern systems provide real-time feedback and quantitative measures of contact, allowing detailed analysis of articulation.

EPG is used for phonetic research to study articulation patterns across languages and populations, and in speech-language pathology to assess and treat disorders that affect articulation, such as dysarthria, apraxia of speech, or cleft palate. It can aid therapy by illustrating how a client’s tongue contact during specific sounds differs from a target pattern, enabling more precise articulation training.

Advantages include direct measurement of tongue–palate contact, high temporal resolution, and noninvasiveness. Limitations include its confinement to detectable contact on the hard palate, not capturing tongue shape or movements elsewhere; the need for a custom-fitting plate and hygiene procedures; and the requirement for specialized training to interpret the data. Some users may find the plate uncomfortable.

History: EPG was developed in the late 20th century and has been widely used in laboratories and clinics since then. It remains one of several articulatory phonetics methods, often complemented by imaging techniques such as ultrasound or MRI.