Three dimensional ultrasound imaging of pre- and post-vocalic liquid consonants in American English: Preliminary observations

This study presents articulation data of American English laterals and rhotics captured by combining real-time 3D ultrasound, digitized 3D palate impressions, and time-aligned audio recordings. While articulation of laterals and rhotics has long been of interest, traditional two-dimensional imaging techniques are subject to limitations because the vocal tract is three-dimensional. The technological advances rendering 3D imaging possible therefore enable more sophisticated understanding of these complex articulations. Results from two speakers are presented, one from New England and one from Indiana. Lateral productions are different for each speaker, but both speakers exhibit mirrored temporal phasing of coronal and dorsal occlusions in /l/ in onset vs. coda position, with dorsal articulations occurring temporally closer to the neighboring vowel. Lingual shape for rhotic productions is complex but consistent across speaker, syllable position, and vowel context.