Title: Characteristics of Vowel Formants, Vowel Space, and Speech Intelligibility Produced by Children Aged 3-6 Years
Abstract: Purpose: This study measured vowel formants and vowel space area from 3 to 6 year-old Korean children in Jeju Island to investigate
their characteristics of vowel production and speech intelligibility. Methods: A total of 80 children (10 boys and 10 girls for each age)
participated. For obtaining the formants, 7 Korean vowels (/a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/, / m/, /^/) were used. Vowel space areas (triangular, quadrangular)
and speech intelligibility were calculated and compared based on gender and age. Results: Results showed that F1 and F2 of /
e/ and /i/ vowels were significantly different as age. In particular, front vowel /e/ and /i/ was significantly lower in 3 years of age but was
gradually increased with age. For gender, F2 of vowel /a/ and /e/ were significantly higher in girls while F2 of vowel /i/ was significantly
higher in boys (p < 0.05). With respect to vowel space area, significant differences were found in ages (p < 0.05) whereas no differences
in gender (p > 0.05). Speech intelligibility was significantly different in age (p < 0.05) while no significant difference was observed
in gender (p > 0.05). Significant relationships were found between triangular vowel space areas (r = 0.299, p < 0.01) or quadrilateral
vowel space areas (r = 0.570, p < 0.01) and speech intelligibility. Conclusion: Accordingly, quadrilateral vowel space area composed of /
i-e-a-u/ was more sensitive than triangular vowel space area composed of /i–a-u/, reflecting the vowel movement space and speech intelligibility
objectively.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-10-31
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 5
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