Thursday, February 7, 2019

MRI shows articulation

This is a MRI of a person speaking.  Yes, it is in German.  But just listen to the sounds and watch the tongue.  The tongue tip is so delicate as it curves up to touch the ridge just behind the teeth for /t/ and /d/ sounds, long contact for /n/ sounds.  You can see the top of the tongue hit mid/back on the division between hard and soft palate for /k/ and /g/ sounds.  You can see the velopharyngeal port (that part of the soft palate that closes the nose off) open for /m/ and /n/ and close  for other consonants.  You can see the tongue minutely adjusting.  You can even see a few swallows.  No wonder articulation can be so hard!  There is so much for the tongue and lips to do.