Which speech measure helps determine the articulatory features like place of articulation in consonants?

The correct response highlights the role of Formant F2 in identifying articulatory features, particularly the place of articulation in consonants. Formants are resonant frequencies of the vocal tract that are critical in vowel and consonant production. Each place of articulation, such as bilabial, alveolar, or velar, produces distinct patterns of formant frequencies, especially for consonants.

Formant F2 specifically provides information about the tongue's position during speech production. In consonants, variations in F2 can indicate different places of articulation; for instance, by analyzing the shifting of F2 frequencies, one can discern whether a given consonant is produced towards the front or back of the oral cavity. This is crucial for distinguishing between sounds that might have similar acoustic properties but differ in their articulation.

In contrast, other choices either measure characteristics that do not directly relate to place of articulation or are not as effective in determining such articulatory information. For instance, Formant F1 is more aligned with vowel height rather than consonant place. Fundamental frequency relates to pitch, which does not provide specific information on articulation, and shimmer measures vocal quality rather than articulatory features. Understanding these distinctions is essential for analyzing and interpreting speech sounds effectively.