L203 midterm review

What is the term we use to refer to the vertical dimension of a waveform?

• Amplitude

• Frequency

• Periodicity

• Duration

Answer explanation

Y axis = amplitude

X axis = time

Higher amplitude = louder

Lower amplitude = quieter

Tags

waveforms

What is the term we use to refer to how close the peaks, or "stripes", are to each other on a waveform?

• Frequency

• Periodicity

• Amplitude

• Duration

Answer explanation

Frequency = how many vibrations of the vocal folds per second

Farther apart = low frequency (less cycles per second)

Closer together = high frequency (more cycles per second)

Tags

waveforms

What sound could this section of this waveform be?

• [s]

• [t]

• [a]

• [l]

Answer explanation

Sounds that are high frequency like this are going to be fricatives: sounds like [θ, ð, s, z, ʃ, ʒ]

What sound could this section of this waveform be?

• [t]

• [ʃ]

• [i]

• [z]

Answer explanation

You can see the individual stripes here, so it is low frequency. Low frequency sounds like this are sonorants (i.e, not stops, fricatives, or affricates).

Which sound does this midsagittal diagram represent?

• [z]

• [b]

• [m]

• [p]

Answer explanation

Closest constriction at the lips = bilabial

Full constriction = stop

Velum raised = not nasal

Vocal folds not vibrating = voiceless

Which sound does this midsagittal diagram represent?

• [z]

• [n]

• [m]

• [d]

Answer explanation

Closest point of constriction = alveolar ridge

Not a full constriction = fricative

Velum raised = not nasal

Vocal folds vibrating = voiced

Which sound does this midsagittal diagram represent?

• [z]

• [n]

• [m]

• [d]

Answer explanation

Closest point of constriction = alveolar ridge

Full constriction = stop

Velum lowered = nasal

Vocal folds vibrating = voiced

Note: nasals do involve full constriction, but only in the oral cavity. Since the velum is lowered, the air can flow freely out of the nose.

Which of these are alveolar sounds? (Select all that apply.)

• [ŋ]

• [t]

• [s]

• [ʒ]

• [l]

Tags

IPA

natural classes

Which of these sounds are sonorants? (Select all that apply.)

• [u]

• [z]

• [d]

• [ɹ]

• [n]

Answer explanation

Sonorant = less constriction in the whole vocal tract (hence why they include nasals even though there is a full constriction in the oral cavity)

Sonorants = everything other than stops, fricatives, and affricates. Don't forget that vowels are sonorants too!

Tags

IPA

natural classes

Which of the following sounds are affricates? (Select all that apply.)

• [d͡ʒ]

• [z]

• [t͡ʃ]

• [ʃ]

Answer explanation

Affricates have both a stop portion and a fricative portion.

Tags

natural classes

IPA