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Vowels /i ɛ a ʌ u/ etc.
Vowels are periodic sounds, i.e., you can find the same pattern repeating in the waveform.
They have clear formants -- which are dark bands in the spectrogram.
They are voiced, and you can always see pitch associated with vowels.
The waveform of the vowel /ɛ/
The spectrogram of the vowel /ɛ/
Nasals /n m ŋ/
Nasals are also voiced (with pitch)
They have lighter spectrum energy than vowels, sometimes with the high-frequency region missing.
The waveforms are also periodic, but the shapes of their cycles are smoother and have fewer fluctuations.
Their magnitude is much smaller than vowels.
Comparison between a vowel (left) and a nasal (right) (a)
Comparison between a nasal (left) and a vowel (right) (b)
Plosives /b p t d k g/
Voiceless plosives: /p t k/
silence + a burst + aspiration in waveform.
a vertical energy bar in the spectrogram.
no pitch.
The waveform and spectrogram of a word-initial /p/ sound
Voiced plosives /b d g/ are more subtle, sometimes all that you get in visualization is a burst.
/b/
Fricatives /h f v s z ʃ ʒ θ ð/
Voiceless fricatives: /h f s ʃ θ/
Fricatives have aperiodic waveforms.
The magnitude of the waveform builds up gradually (as opposed to a sudden burst).
The spectral energy is concentrated on the high-frequency region.
No pitch.
The waveform and spectrogram of /s/ (coming before a vowel)
Zooming in: the aperiodic waveforms of /s/
Resources on Youtube:
Reading Spectrogram: Vowels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWel5j-F8lE
Reading Spectrogram: Consonants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-RVpvofhSY
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