Acoustic analysis and perception of Spanish fricative consonants

This paper examines the acoustic properties of Argentine Spanish fricatives and the spectral cues in recognition of these consonants. It was observed that [s] spectrally peaks around 5000 and 8000 Hx, [formula: see text] around 2500 and 5000 Hz, [f] around 1500 and 8500 Hz, [x] around 1000 and 4000 Hz and [ç] around 2000 and 4000 Hz. The perceptual importance of each of these spectral peaks was determined by filtering and synthesis experiments. With regard to the voice fricatives: [beta, ŏ, Y, Y, 3] the analysis showed periodic components with an F1 of similar frequency and a variable F2. Noise components with an F1 of similar frequency and a variable F2. Noise components were principally observed in [3]. Voiced fricatives proved to be shorter than voiceless ones. The analysis of fricatives in consonant-vowel syllables suggested that both the friction and vocalic portions may provide relevant acoustic cues. Tape-splicing experiments, designed to test this observation, showed that except for [x] and [Y], all Spanish fricatives were accurately identified by the friction portion alone. However, it was also observed that in transitionless syllables the vocalic portion affected the phonetic identification of the friction portion. This phenomenon pointed to the perceptual relevance of the transition in some combinations of fricatives and vowels.