Abstract—Language is a medium for communication between humans. Language used code which is a combination of phonemes that form words and sentences. Each word has one or more syllables, while the combination of vowel and consonants will produce syllables. Articulation process involves the function of several human systems such as respiratory system, throat, voice cord and vellum working together in combinations ensuring perfect production of sound and speech. Each alphabet produces pattern on the tongue and hard palate contact as they were pronounced. This paper presents a pilot study on the production of /s/, /t/ and /l/, and the syllables by an adult speaker using an Electropalography (EPG). The participant, who speaks Malay as her first language recorded the production of /s/, /t/ and /l/ and the syllables. The Reading EPG palate used in this study has 62 electrodes which matched the tongue-palate contact. Data was analyzed using Articulate Assist 1.18. The purpose of this study is to observe the differences of tongue-palate contact between the consonants /s/, /t/ and /l/. Results indicate significant differences between production of /s/, /t/ and /l/ with the syllables.

Index Terms—Electropalatograph, syllables, Malay language.

The authors are with Craniofacial and Biomaterial Sciences Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 13200 Bertam Penang, Malaysia (email: fatanah.suhaimi@usm.my).

Cite: Syatirah Mat Zin, Fatanah M. Suhaimi, Siti Noor Fazliah Mohd Noor, NurulIffah Ismail, Nurulakma Zali, "Consonants /s/ /t/ /l/ and the Syllables in Malay Language," International Journal of Bioscience, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 92-98, 2016.