Psychological ratings of harshness were available for both normal and hyperfunctional productions of the vowels of the vowel quadrilateral /a/, /i/, /æ/, and /u/. A consistent pattern was observed across the two conditions. The vowel /u/ was perceived least harsh and /æ/ most harsh, with /a/ and /i/ being perceived about equally harsh. The perceptual concomitant of “harsh” applied to vowels seems independent of muscular adjustments associated with “tense” vowel production and requires another explanation.
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