Towards a phonetic characterization of articulatory distortions

Abstract

In the present article, we present the initial results of our experience with the phonetic distortion analysis of all Brazilian-Portuguese consonant phonemes emission in different speech contexts. We have analyzed, in 10 patients from the Speech-Language Pathology Clinic of UNESP-Campus Marilia – Brazil, the articulators movement during the emission of those phonemes which presented with distortions and their more perceivable acoustic effects. Our partial results have shown that, among all studied phonemes, it was the emission of the alveolar ones that presented with tendencies of tongue anteriorization, posteriorization and lateralization. Regarding to their acoustic effects, we have particularly observed an extensive segments duration, a loss of “stridency” and a lowering of their typical frequency places.