E. W. Scripture

Failure of Fourier Analysis applied to Vowel Vibrations

THE curve in Fig. 1a was produced by multiplying each ordinate of the curve y = a sin wx by the value or the corresponding ordinate of the curve y = e−δx. The two component curves are shown in Fig. 1b.

Nature of Vowel Sounds

The Analysis of Vowel Curves.

Overlapping of Speech Sounds

THE piece of sound film reproduced in Fig. 1 shows the last part of the vowel and the first part of the consonant in a registration of ash. The vibratory bits that characterise the vowel can be traced in ever-diminishing strength to the third line in the reproduction. The mixture of regular and irregular vibrations that characterise the consonant can be traced back to the middle of the first line. The end of the vowel and the beginning of the consonant are seen to be overlapped.

Three Biological Principles observed in Speech Inscriptions

IN the disease known as general paralysis the mental side consists of a gradually progressive disintegration of the mind. There is often a time very early in the progress of the disease when no mental defect can be found and no speech peculiarity can be detected, but yet when certain bodily signs are sufficiently prominent to render a diagnosis certain. Speech inscriptions in such cases always show an interesting abnormality.

Vowel Vibrations and Vowel Production

THE dark band in Fig. 1 is the reproduction of the speech track of a vowel (a in hatch) on a sound film. The serrated upper edge is the registration of the vibratory movement of the particles of air, that is, it is the curve of vibration. It is seen to consist of a series of portions—vibratory ‘bits’—each of which begins strong and fades away to zero. Such a curve is the registration of a free vibration aroused by an impulse that is not a vibration. The glottal action consists of the repeated opening and shutting of the glottal slit. A puff of air is sent into the vocal cavity at each opening movement; each puff sets the air in the cavity into vibration.