Abstract:
In this paper the measurement of palatolingual contact stresses and patterns during consonant production using a force-sensor-mounted palatal plate is reported. The force sensor is composed of a strain gauge and a cantilever mounted on a palatal plate which is attached to a hard palate. The palatolingual contact stress is concentrated at one spot on the cantilever by a protuberance bonded on to the cantilever. When the tongue touches the force sensor, the palatolingual contact stress is detected as the strain in the cantilever. A prototype system was developed consisting of a 16-force-sensor-mounted palatal plate (thickness=1 mm) and a multichannel strainmeter. The output of the force sensor was proportional to the stress applied to the cantilever and had no hysteresis. Error due to mechanical interference among the sensors was less than 5.4%. The palatolingual contact stresses and patterns for an adult male were measured during production of the consonants /t/, /d/, and /n/ using the present system.