Articulatory Training of the Deaf using Low-Frequency Surrogate Fricatives

Abstract

This preliminary investigation attempted to determine whether training of the deaf using realtime acoustic displays of low-frequency surrogates for /s/ and /∫/ would aid in the improvement of the articulation of these phonemes. Each member of the experimental group received articulatory instruction largely devoted to fricatives while having auditory access both to a teacher’s production of low-frequency surrogate fricatives and to simultaneous feedback of his own productions in the surrogate form. Members of a control group received similar instruction short of exposure to the surrogates. The results indicate that training with acoustic surrogate fricatives mildly facilitated improvement in articulation of /s/ and substantially facilitated articulation of /∫/.