SAMPASpeech Assessment Methods Phonetic Alphabet, a computer-readable phonetic script using common ASCII characters, based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). |
Sampling rateThe frequency at which samples are taken from a waveform for the purposes of digitising speech. For example, a sample rate of 44,100 Hz (which corresponds to CD quality) means that each second of a waveform is represented by 44,100 equally spaced samples. |
SandhiAssimilation at word boundaries (see also tone sandhi). |
SchwaThe unrounded, mid, central vowel that corresponds to the unstressed vowel in words like English police. In many languages this vowel fulfills the role of a default and/or hesitation vowel. |
Second personIn a person system, referring to the addressee(s). |
Secondary affixesAffixes that do not trigger the types of changes in the stem associated with primary affixes. They typically occur farther away from the stem than primary affixes. |
Secondary articulationA constriction of the vocal tract that takes place at the same time as a narrower constriction elsewhere. Dark l is an example: this sound has a primary articulation at the alveolar ridge, where the tongue tip makes a full contact. Raising of the tongue towards the soft palate is a narrowing, which makes it a phonetically secondary articulation. |
Secondary stressSee stress. |
SegmentA segment is any consonant or vowel. The term is a (theory-neutral) alternative for the concept of phoneme. |
SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that deals with meaning in human language. |