RELATIVE PERCEPTUAL SIMILARITY OF SIXTY INITIAL CONSONANTS.
Abstract
The study reported treated the relationship among 59 consonants and consonantal clusters plus the instance of 'the absence of an initial consonant'; a total of 60 manners of commencing one-syllable words. The 60 ways of beginning one-syllable words were nearly exhaustive except that initial vowel sounds were not compared. The results of the study confirm the earlier approach (direct magnitude estimation) as one that can be used in assigning degrees of similarity-dissimilarity to initial consonants and clusters. Values obtained in this manner can be subjected satisfactorily to factor analysis. The outcome suggests that place of articulation, stop-continuant features, degrees of friction, and glide-like aspects of consonants contribute importantly to grouping the consonants on the basis of similarity. A number of applications of the results seem possible and are in prospect. The grading of aural material to facilitate speech perception has many ramifications; for example, in code-words and auditory training. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0698205
Entities
People
- John W. Black
Organizations
- Ohio State University