ABSTRACT
The scientific study of phonology and phonetics has been in a state of theoretical crisis for over twenty years. Analyses of the speech-system output (e.g., acoustic patterns, articulatory movements, muscle actions) frequently have yielded patterns that are not consistent with phonological units or features. Complex, elegant, and even metaphysical explanations have emerged in attempts to reconcile this lack of correspondence. Yet other investigators have (1) proposed novel sets of phonological units; (2) chosen to remain agnostic; and/or (3) elected to investigate speech-production behavior from the standpoints of cognitive psychology or information processing. This chapter is aimed at providing a motor control perspective on the apparent incongruity between speech-production system output and its underlying phonological representation. The fundamental argument is that classical physiological analyses have been focused too narrowly, by virtue of the implicit premise that the character of underlying units is discernible in patterns of isolated speech movements or muscle actions. The present chapter re-emphasizes the concept that phonological units are abstract intentions which are implemented by generating perceptually acceptable acoustic waveforms (cf. Lade foged, DeClark, Lindau & Papcun, 1972; Perkell, 1980). From this perspective it is apparent that while speech-motor actions arc related deterministically to underlying phonological units, the individual movement and muscle actions are wholly subordinate to the achievement of multiaction goals.
