LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:3 March 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

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Identifying the Acoustics Features of Malayalam Vowels

Nasla Abdul Azeez and Dr. Saidalavi.C

Abstract

The study of vowel acoustics is fundamental to understanding the phonetic and phonological structure of a language. This research focuses on identifying and analysing the acoustics of vowel system in Malayalam by examining key acoustic parameters, particularly formant frequencies (F1, F2, and F3). Formant frequencies serve as critical indicators of vowel quality, influencing speech perception and linguistic classification. Through acoustic analysis, this study explores the distribution and variation of these formants across different vowel categories in Malayalam. The results provide valuable insights into the phonetic properties of the language, contributing to a deeper understanding of its vowel space. Furthermore, this research has potential applications in speech recognition, linguistic analysis, and language preservation efforts. By documenting and analysing the acoustic characteristics of Malayalam vowels, the study aims to support advancements in phonetic studies and computational linguistics while preserving the linguistic diversity of the language.

Keywords: Malayalam Vowels, Acoustic Analysis, Formant Frequencies F1, F2, F3.

Introduction

Vowel acoustics play a crucial role in the study of phonetics and phonology, as vowels serve as the fundamental building blocks of spoken language. The acoustic properties of vowels, particularly formant frequencies, provide valuable insights into the articulation, phonetic structure, and perceptual characteristics of a language. The fundamental frequency of the voice is determined by the rate of vocal cord vibrations per second of the voice produced, which is thus controlled by the speaker through adjusting the tension in the vocal cords. It accompanies preferred resonating frequencies of the vocal tract referred to as formants. They are usually referred to as F1, F2, F3 etc. F1 is the first formant frequency, resulting from resonance in the first chamber, which extends from the glottis to the points of articulation or approximation. F2 is the second formant frequency, caused by resonance in the second chamber, which runs from the point of articulation or the area where the tongue reaches a particular height, to the front part of the tongue or the dental ridge. Finally, F3 is the third formant, occurring in the third chamber, a smaller air column between the tongue and the lips.

The first formant (F1) is primarily associated with vowel height, the second formant (F2) is linked to vowel frontness or backness, and the third formant (F3) can provide additional information about vocal tract characteristics, including speaker identity and certain phonetic features. Analysing these formant frequencies is essential for understanding how vowels are produced and perceived across different languages.

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

Nasla Abdul Azeez
PhD Research Scholar, Department of Linguistics
Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University
naslaabdulazeez@gmail.com

Dr. Saidalavi.C
Principal
Malabar College of Advanced Studies, Vengara
saidmutty@gmail.com
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