The aerodynamics of [m] and [n] nasal consonants in Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract

The present study aims to describe the aerodynamics of the [m] and [n] nasal consonants of the Brazilian Portuguese, by using computer technology and simultaneous collection of both acoustic and aerodynamic data, under a dynamic perspective of speech production. Five adults were recorded; three females and two males, aged from 25 to 52 years. The corpus included 20 logatomes embedded in carrier sentences. The context of tonicity and the context of the preceding vowel varied. Speech data were collected through the EVA Station (Evaluation Vocale Assistée) and piezoelectric instruments. The analysis of the data collected through the EVA Station concerned the curve characteristics of the oral aerial flow (OAF) and those of the nasal aerial flow (NAF), while the analysis of data collected through the piezoelectric concerned the values of the NAF curves. The results indicated, for both male and female participants, similarities between [m] and [n] consonants: very low amplitude in the OAF curves, which indicated some occlusion in the passage of air through the oral cavity; and NAF curves with plain configuration and with greater amplitude in relation to the underlying vowels. Therefore, the aerodynamic behavior of NAF during the production of [m] and [n] allowed for articulatory interference that showed that the velic gesture of these consonants are composed of three tempos: opening, plateau and closing. Additionally, there were significant differences among the aerodynamic parameters related to the [m] and [n] consonants, regarding the contexts of tonicity and preceding vowel. Hence, the aerodynamic characteristics pointed to the dynamic nature of nasal consonants of Brazilian Portuguese.