Speech and Language

Speech and Language: Volume 1, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a compendium of papers that discusses the processes and pathologies of, as well as applies theories and clinical issues to, speech and language. Some papers discuss perception of speech in early infancy, the problems faced by speech clinicians, and the anatomy of the perioral motor system. Based on data compiled on the infant's perception of speech sounds, one paper notes that human infants discriminate depending on fine temporal and frequency changes in a complex auditory array. Infants also show perceptual constraints while listening to speech characterized as adult- like; they are also predisposed to perceive certain speech-sound categories such as vowel and fricative categories. One paper examines the suggestion of Kent (1976) that "acoustic characteristics of children's speech...hold the promise of sensitive methods for the study of speech maturation and developmental disorders." This investigation involves the following: the recent attempts at multidimensional analyses of speech and perception; a measure of perceptual contrast; and results of feature comparison efforts. The compendium is well suited for linguists, ethnologists, psychologists, and researchers whose works involve linguistics, language learning, communications, and syntax.

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List of Contributors
Preface
The Perception of Speech in Early Infancy
I. The Speech Perception Process: Three Instructive Exercises
II. Models of the Perceptual Process
III. The Perception of Speech Sounds by Infants
IV. Comments on Issues in Infant Speech Perception
V. Beyond the Data: Understanding the Nature and Origins of Early Predispositions Toward Speech and Language
VI. Applying Basic Science Findings to Early Diagnosis of Speech and Language Disorders
VII. Directions for the Future
VIII. Summary and Conclusions
References
Acoustic-Perceptual Methods for Evaluation of Defective Speech
I. A General Background and Rationale
II. Acoustic Phonetics and the Clinic: Some Suggestions
III. Summary and Some Concluding Statements
References
Linguistic and Motor Aspects of Stuttering
I. Introduction
II. Linguistic Determinants of Stuttering
III. Motor Determinants of Stuttering
IV. Linguistic and Motor Models of Stuttering
V. Stuttering Therapy Approaches Involving Linguistic and Motor Awareness
VI. Linguistic and Motor Aspects of Stuttering: Current Status and Future Directions
References
Anatomic Studies of the Perioral Motor System: Foundations for Studies in Speech Physiology
I. A Rationale for Anatomic Investigation of the Perioral Musculature
II. Characteristics of the Perioral Muscles
III. Cadaveric Material
IV. Qualitative Descriptions: Line Tracings of Perioral Muscle Topology (Study 1)
V. Quantitative Descriptions: Direct Measures of Perioral Muscle Topology (Study 2)
VI. Empirical Validation of Electrode Placements Recommended for the Perioral Muscles (Study 3)
VII. A Set of Preliminary Specifications for Electrode Placements in the Perioral Muscles
VIII. Conclusions
Appendix A: Specimen Specifications
Appendix B: Surface Landmark Measures
Appendix C: Tabulated Results
References
Acoustic Characteristics of Normal and Pathological Voices
I. Auditory and Visual Methods
II. Acoustic Symptoms of Laryngeal Pathology
III. Acoustic Techniques for Voice Analysis
IV. Voice Profiles
V. Statistical Analysis of Normal and Pathological Data
VI. Quantitative Assessment of Voice Therapy
VII. Summary and Future Investigations
Appendix A: Linear Model of Voiced Speech Production
Appendix B: Computer Program for Acoustic Analysis
References
Synergy: Toward a Model of Language
I. Historical Approaches to the Study of Language
II. Synergy of Language: A Rationale
III. Evidence for Synergistic Relationships
IV. Discussion and Implications
References
Subject Index