Research Goals. The main aim of the research is to determine whether the speech production goals for fricatives are articulatory, aerodynamic, aeroacoustic, or acoustic.  Experiments use human subjects first to acquire articulatory and acoustic data that can be used to set up mechanical models and computer simulations, and later, to test predictions made by the more easily controllable and measurable mechanical model and computer simulation experiments.  Our research contributes usefully to the debate about speech production goals, advances our understanding of dysfluencies involving fricative pronunciation, broadens the range of analysis and simulation tools used for fricatives by the speech community, and extends basic research on fricative production.

Current Status. Funding began on September 1, 2004 for five years. Total costs for the fourth year are $366,010.