Speech and Language Series

Speech and Language: Volume 1, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a compendium of papers that discusses the processes and pathologies of, as well as applies theories and clinical issues to, speech and language. Some papers discuss perception of speech in early infancy, the problems faced by speech clinicians, and the anatomy of the perioral motor system. Based on data compiled on the infant's perception of speech sounds, one paper notes that human infants discriminate depending on fine temporal and frequency changes in a complex auditory array. Infants also show perceptual constraints while listening to speech characterized as adult- like; they are also predisposed to perceive certain speech-sound categories such as vowel and fricative categories. One paper examines the suggestion of Kent (1976) that "acoustic characteristics of children's speech...hold the promise of sensitive methods for the study of speech maturation and developmental disorders." This investigation involves the following: the recent attempts at multidimensional analyses of speech and perception; a measure of perceptual contrast; and results of feature comparison efforts. The compendium is well suited for linguists, ethnologists, psychologists, and researchers whose works involve linguistics, language learning, communications, and syntax.

Speech and Language: Volume 3, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a compendium of papers that discusses theories, clinical issues, and pathology of language and speech. Some papers discuss theories of phonological development, the encoding/decoding system of language, and the application of phonological universals in speech pathology. Other papers deal with the role of the speech-language clinician, a psychological framework for speech perception, and the formulation of a model for biomechanical analysis of velopharyngeal structure and function. Several papers analyze speech control mechanisms in skilled and non-skilled speakers, the rationale for the delayed auditory feedback (DAF) treatment program, and biofeedback in relation to speech pathology. One paper cites a study of Williams (1974) that shows strategies used in learning a new phonetic system depend upon whether the speaker is still within the critical period for language learning or already well beyond it. The paper notes that if adults can ignore their previously learned sound system and be childlike again in their freedom to experiment and be sensitivity to their own results, then they can achieve supra-segmental and segmental nuances of a new language. The compendium can prove helpful for linguists, ethnologists, psychologists, speech therapists, researchers in linguistics or communications, and general readers interested in speech or learning issues.

Speech and Language: Volume 4, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a collection of papers that deals with the theories, clinical issues, and pathology of language and speech. Several papers discuss nonlinguistic and linguistic processing in children, phonological development in infants, and the development of speech fluency in children. Other papers examine the four major speech production models, the physiological and acoustical aspects of speech adaptation, spatial-temporal model of velopharyngeal function, and variations in the supraglottal air pressure waveform. One paper notes the relationships of two systems of development as follows: language development is dependent upon cognitive products and cognitive development is dependent upon language development. Such relationship leads to the hypotheses that language and cognitive developments are independent, are interdependent, and are both dependent upon some X abilities. One paper suggests that speech clinicians should have as a goal the achievement of speech that is as normal as possible in all respects, and not just for patients to sound normal. The collection will benefit linguists, ethnologists, psychologists, speech therapists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurolinguists, or speech pathologists.

Speech and Language: Volume 2, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a compendium of papers that discusses the processes and pathologies of speech and language, such as functional articulation disorders, lexical development, and a group therapy for treating stuttering. Some papers deal with vocal fold vibrations, childhood homonymy, framework for conversational speech behaviors, and vibrotactile testing. One paper cites studies of Hersen and Barlow (1976) that treatments warrant consideration only if these are powerful enough to effect obvious gains; and of Gilbert, McPeek, and Mosteller (1977) that treatment research is more likely to give modest than substantial gains—the degree of gains which can also be difficult to detect. Another paper examines suggestions for teaching words to language-disordered children, that when knowledge of normal language processes is applied in training approaches, effective and individualized programs will follow. Used in the treatment of stuttering, the Shaping Group, which employs action and many other treatment models, shows that its approach is effective. Another paper notes that before a surgical correction of voice disorders is undertaken, the importance of knowing the possible effects of various procedures on the voice should first be known. The compendium is well suited for linguists, ethnologists, psychologists, speech therapists, and researchers whose works involve linguistics, learning, communications, corrective surgery, and syntax.

Speech and Language: Advances in Basic Research and Practice, Volume 7 presents contributions that discuss a wide array of topics on speech and language processes and pathologies. This volume contains 11 contributions focusing on a broad range of topics on speech and language. Topics discussed in the book include auditory processing deficits in aphasic individuals and the factors that influence their performance; the functioning of the auditory system in stutterers; speech training aids for the deaf; and techniques for the assessment of language abilities in children. The morphological structure and mechanical properties of the vocal fold; the factors which participate in determining the location of a boundary signal and its amplitude; and the assessment and remediation of communication behavior in moderately retarded developmentally disabled adults are likewise covered extensively. Linguists, speech pathologists, and other language experts will find the book very insightful and informative.

Speech and Language: Volume 6, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a collection of papers that discusses pathology, theories, and clinical issues related to language and speech. Some papers describe auditory discrimination and intervention techniques for articulatory defects, assessment of auditory disorders, phonological systems of deaf speakers, as well as speech and language characteristics of aging persons. Other papers discuss issues in language and cognitive assessment of black children, distortions of the supralaryngeal vocal tract, the structure of the human tongue, transformation of the acoustic signal into speech, and methods to estimate glottal volume velocity waveform properties. One paper suggests guidelines that investigators should be aware of before giving any speech discriminating tests. These guidelines include the following: use of age appropriate tests, use of culturally unbiased tests, adaption of intrapersonal testing procedures, and utilization of recorded stimulus presentation. Another paper reviews auditory processing deficits associated with brain damage and the considerations applicable to the assessment of such disorders. It also suggests treatment planning. One paper concludes that the phonological structure of a fluent speech requires that the listener employ higher level sources of knowledge while making phonetic decisions. Linguists, speech pathologists., psychologists, speech therapists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, and neurolinguists will find the collection highly relevant.

Speech and Language: Volume 5, Advances in Basic Research and Practice is a collection of papers dealing with clinical issues, theories, and pathology of language and speech. Several papers discuss developmental apraxia of speech, relapse of stuttering therapy, the single subject research design, and the implications of the physiologic, acoustic, and perceptual aspects of coarticulation. Other papers analyze language development, language training, the three aspects of voice quality element, and the issue of disputed communication origins. One paper notes that intervention programs for stuttering produces mostly short-term benefits. The paper discusses the known risks of relapse following the end of stuttering therapy and the independent variables that influence this risk. Another paper examines voice quality in terms of perceptual, acoustic, and physiologic features of the different voice modes. By using the "Black Box" model, in which frequency, intensity, laryngeal waveform, pharyngeal prefiltering, and formant frequency can be controlled, the paper shows that a measure of interaction among all the controls exist. For example, a voice mode represented by a laryngeal waveform and pharyngeal prefiltering still interacts with frequency and intensity. Therefore, knowledge of the differences in physiology that attend to each voice mode can be valuable in effecting changes in voice production. The collection will prove valuable for linguists, speech therapists, neurologists, neuropsychologists, neurolinguists, speech pathologists, or investigators whose works involve linguistics, learning, communications, and syntax.

Speech and Language: Advances in Basic Research and Practice, Volume 8 provides articles that discuss a broad range of topics on speech and language processes and pathologies. This volume contains nine contributions covering a wide array of topics on speech and language. Certain chapters review the literature on speech-sound development in normally developing and deviant children; the scope of the problem of stuttering and the three prominent theoretical positions on anxiety in stuttering; and critical issues in the linguistic study of aphasia. Discussions on such topics as speech production characteristics of the hearing impaired; ontogenetic changes in children's speech-sound perception; and the impact of linguistic theory on the description and treatment of articulation disorders are also presented. Linguists, speech pathologists, and researchers on language development will find the book very insightful and informative.

Speech and Language: Advances in Basic Research and Practice, Volume 9 is a collection of contributions that discuss a broad range of topics on speech and language processes and pathologies. This volume contains seven contributions covering a wide array of topics on speech and language. It covers topics on speech development and production in normal and hearing-impaired speakers; integrated speech and language instruction for the hearing-impaired adolescent; and laryngectomee rehabilitation. Also discussed are subjects on sensory and motor changes during development and aging; the phonetic structure of errors in the perception of fluent speech; and the multiple meanings of phoneme and their confusions. Linguists, speech pathologists, and researchers on language development will find the book very insightful and informative.

Speech and Language: Advances in Basic Research and Practice, Volume 10 is a compendium of articles that discuss a wide range of topics on speech and language processes and pathologies. This volume contains seven papers presenting a broad range of topics on speech and language. The book provides various articles discussing topics on the articulatory and perceptual characteristics associated with apraxia of speech; prevention of communicative disorders in cleft palate infants; and the relationship between normal phonological acquisition and clinical intervention. Topics on the role of auditory timing in the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders; categorical perception; and the theoretical and clinical implications of speakers' abilities to control the output of their speech mechanism are presented as well. Linguists, speech pathologists, and researchers on language development will find the book very insightful and informative.

Speech and Language: Advances in Basic Research and Practice, Volume 11 contains articles that discuss a wide range of topics on speech and language processes and pathologies. This volume is comprised of six contributions on a wide variety of topics on speech and language. The book begins with an examination of approaches to aphasia diagnostics from both a medical and nonmedical perspective. Subsequent chapters cover topics on acoustic-phonetic descriptions of speech production in speakers with cleft palate and other velopharyngeal disorders; the role of infant vocalizations as they relate to subsequent speech and language development; pitch phenomena and applications in electrolarynx speech; and practical applications of neuroanatomy. The final chapter presents the employment of studies of temporal coordination to understand the development of motor control in speech and to provide a basis for testing theories on the development of speech as a motor skill. Linguists, speech pathologists, and researchers on language development will find the book very insightful and informative.