LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13 : 2 February 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Vowel Duration across Age and Dialects of Telugu Language

Krishna Y, Ph.D. (Sp. & Hg.), CCC-A
B. Rajashekhar, Ph.D.

Abstract

Vowel duration, one of the important acoustic characteristics, is important in vowel perception. Vowel duration varies based on individual, linguistic and non-linguistic characteristics. This study was to study vowel duration in all Telugu vowels across different gender, region and age groups. Using cross sectional study design, a total of 4320 tokens from 72 randomly selected Telugu speaking participants from three age groups, two gender and three region groups were analyzed. Vowel duration of the target vowel was extracted and analyzed using spectrogram. From the results it is interpreted that significant variations in vowel duration of vowels in Telugu exist between children, adolescents and adults; Coastal, Rayalaseema and Telengana speakers. Vowels /e/ and /a:/ had longest vowel duration, while short and long vowels /i/ have shortest vowel duration. Children found to have longer vowel duration as compared to adolescents or adults. Regional influences are seen on vowel duration. Rayalaseema speakers have longer vowel duration as compared to Coastal or Telengana speakers. Hence, it is essential for speech language pathologists to apply the age, gender and region appropriate normative data to achieve appropriate speech output.

Keywords: Vowel duration, Vowels, Telugu.

Introduction

Speech sounds consist of vowels and consonants. Vowels carry maximum energy and play a major role in speech understanding. Consonants carry less energy but have meaningful message in speech communication. “Vowel is a conventional vocal sound in the production of which the speech organs offer little obstruction to the air stream and form a series of resonators above the level of the larynx” (Mosby, 2008). The organs involved in the production of speech sounds develop over the period of life span, and there are structural variations among genders and races, which contribute in producing different vocal quality. Linguistic, syntactic and phonological rules of each language further contribute to the complexity of the speech sound. Ladefoged’s (1975) comments that the vowels of different languages though perceived as same, with subtle acoustic differences between them, have relevance to the study of their acoustic and temporal characteristics in different languages and age groups. Information on acoustic characteristics of speech sounds will further enable understanding their articulatory nature and their perception (Pickett, 1980). Analysis of the acoustic characteristics of speech sounds of Indian languages is needed to understand their production and perception (Savithri, 1989). It will further be useful in perceptual studies, speech processing strategies, diagnosis and rehabilitation of various communication disorders.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Krishna. Y., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Speech & Hearing
Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences
Manipal University
Manipal – 576 104
Karnataka
India
krishna.y@manipal.edu

B. Rajasekhar, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences
Manipal University
Manipal – 576 104
Karnataka
India
b.raja@manipal.edu
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