What is the primary purpose of using spectrograms in speech science?

The primary purpose of using spectrograms in speech science is to analyze speech patterns over time. Spectrograms provide a visual representation of the frequency content of speech as it varies over time. This allows researchers and clinicians to observe how different speech sounds are produced and how they change, which is crucial for understanding the dynamics of speech production.

By displaying the frequency on the vertical axis, time on the horizontal axis, and intensity through shading or color, spectrograms reveal important characteristics of speech, such as formant frequencies, voice pitch, and temporal patterns. This information is essential for analyzing speech articulation, prosody, and phonetic features, making spectrograms a fundamental tool in both research and clinical settings when studying or treating speech-related issues.