Perceptual Parameters of Consonant Sounds

Recordings by one speaker of CV syllables made up of American English labial, alveolar, and post-alveolar stops and fricatives combined with the vowels /i, α, u/ were played to 16 subjects. They were required to rank the consonants on the following five perceptual parameters, using a seven-point scale: Duration, Loudness, Frequency, Sharpness, and Contact. The scale values were compared on the basis of contrast in place, manner, and mode (voicing) of articulation by means of the sign test of significance. Substantial numbers of significant differences were obtained only for Duration comparisons based on manner of articulation and for Contact comparisons based on place of articulation.