Formant frequencies F 1 is a function of tongue height. F 2 is a function of the location of the major vocal constriction. F 3 is a function of the entire vocal tract. Differences between vowels and sonorants and obstruents. Shorter duration Lower amplitude Ill-defined formants Differences between vowels and sonorants.
Sounds have greater amplitude - on the average, two times the amplitude of obstruents.
Sounds have, on the average, half the amplitude of sonorants. Acoustic Characteristics of Vowels Vowels are characterized by the presence of relatively intense and well-defined formants. First three formants are adequate to perceptually discriminate all English vowels. Energy is concentrated in low frequencies in vowels. Source spectrum for vowels is a complex periodic sound from the larynx.