What is amplitude primarily perceived as in speech science?

Amplitude is primarily perceived as loudness in speech science. Loudness refers to our sensory response to the intensity of sound waves, which can be quantified by measuring amplitude. In the context of sound waves, amplitude represents the height of the wave; greater amplitudes result in louder sounds, while smaller amplitudes correspond to softer sounds.

This perception of loudness is crucial in speech production and perception, as it can significantly influence how well speech is understood in various environments. For instance, in a noisy room, a speaker may need to raise their voice (increase amplitude) to ensure their words are heard clearly.

In contrast, pitch relates to the frequency of sound waves rather than amplitude. Frequency describes how often a sound wave cycles within a given time frame and is perceived as how high or low a sound is. Clarity refers to the intelligibility of speech sounds, which can be impacted by various factors, including articulation and background noise, but is not directly correlated with amplitude.