Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- PART I General concepts
- PART II The analytic framework
- PART III Initiation and phonation
- PART IV Linear segmental analysis
- 8 Stop articulations
- 9 Fricative articulations
- 10 Resonant articulations
- 11 Multiple articulations
- PART V Articulatory co-ordination and phonetic settings
- PART VI Temporal, prosodic and metrical analysis
- PART VII Principles of transcription
- PART VIII Conclusion
- Envoi
- Appendix I The phonetic alphabet of the International Phonetic Association
- Appendix II Index of languages
- References
- Index of names
- Subject index
9 - Fricative articulations
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- PART I General concepts
- PART II The analytic framework
- PART III Initiation and phonation
- PART IV Linear segmental analysis
- 8 Stop articulations
- 9 Fricative articulations
- 10 Resonant articulations
- 11 Multiple articulations
- PART V Articulatory co-ordination and phonetic settings
- PART VI Temporal, prosodic and metrical analysis
- PART VII Principles of transcription
- PART VIII Conclusion
- Envoi
- Appendix I The phonetic alphabet of the International Phonetic Association
- Appendix II Index of languages
- References
- Index of names
- Subject index
Summary
A necessary condition for a segment to be classified as a fricative is that the degree of stricture reached and held during the medial phase of the segment must be that of close approximation. That is, for any given rate of airflow, the cross-sectional area of the constricted aperture has to be small enough to cause audible friction. This friction (or turbulence of the molecules in the airflow) can either be local, at the exit to the constriction, or it can be caused by the constriction having the effect of directing a jet of air onto a nearby obstacle such as the teeth.
The interaction between airflow and acoustic factors in fricative production is very delicate. For any given small aperture, there is a critical rate of airflow through the gap below which the airflow is laminar and relatively silent, and above which the airflow is turbulent and noisy, producing a ‘hissing’ or ‘hushing’ sound. The criteria for classifying a segment as a fricative thus include acoustic/auditory and aerodynamic considerations, as well as articulatory factors. Catford (1977a: 121) suggests that the typical cross-sectional areas of the maximum constriction in a fricative segment range from about 3 sq. mm at a minimum to about 20 sq. mm at a maximum. For normal airflow rates in speech, a gap larger than 20 sq. mm restores laminar, silent flow.
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- Information
- Principles of Phonetics , pp. 244 - 268Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1994