Computational model of the tongue: A revised version
Yuki Kakita, Osamu Fujimura · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1977
A previous model of the tongue as a three-dimensional static elastic system [S. Kiritani, K. Miyawaki, O. Fujimura, and J. E. Miller, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 57, S3(A) (1975)] has been revised for studying the physiological functions of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles in articulation of speech sounds, including apical consonants. The new version of the finite-element computation uses 86 tetrahedra to represent one-half of the tongue, assuming symmetry with respect it the midsagittal plane. The entire set of tetrahedra is subgrouped into 30 functional units, each of which can be given independently specified stress and strain in any direction to simulate muscle contraction. In addition, any node points can be pulled by external forces. The computation procedure is substantially improved over the previous model, in both accuracy and speed as well as in convenience for the user. A preliminary study of articulatory gestures using the model will be reported on with particular emphasis on the stability of the acoustic consequence when articulatory gesture is slightly varied.