What is typically measured in milliseconds in speech science?

Voice Onset Time (VOT) is commonly measured in milliseconds in speech science because it represents the time interval between the release of a stop consonant and the onset of vocal fold vibrations for the following vowel. This measurement is essential for understanding articulatory timing and differentiating phonetic contrasts in speech sounds, particularly in voicing distinctions among consonants.

VOT is a crucial parameter in speech production and perception studies, as it helps to identify whether a consonant is voiced or voiceless, which is key in languages where such distinctions affect meaning. The milliseconds scale allows for precise temporal measurements, aiding researchers and clinicians in analyzing speech patterns, disorders, and phonetic contrasts.

In contrast, while fundamental frequency, formant frequencies, and shimmer are important acoustic features analyzed in speech science, they are measured using different units or intervals. Fundamental frequency is typically expressed in Hertz (Hz), which relates to cycles per second rather than a time duration. Formant frequencies also use Hertz notation to describe the resonant frequencies of the vocal tract, and shimmer is a measure of amplitude variation that is often considered in a different context from temporal measures like VOT.