What largely influences the spectral shape of a consonant sound?

The spectral shape of a consonant sound is largely influenced by formant transitions. Formant transitions refer to the changes in frequency and amplitude of the formants that occur as a consonant moves into a vowel. These transitions are critical in conveying the characteristics of consonant sounds because they provide crucial information about how the articulators are positioned and how the airflow is shaped during the production of the consonant.

For example, when transitioning from a consonant to a following vowel, the frequency of the formants can shift significantly, which reflects the differing acoustic properties of the produced sounds. This spectral information is significant in distinguishing between different consonants as well as understanding how they blend into the following vowels.

In this context, while voicing elements, vowel height, and articulatory position also play roles in speech sound production and perception, it is the formant transitions that most directly impact the spectral shape of consonants. Voicing provides information about whether the consonant is voiced or voiceless, vowel height refers to the position of the tongue relative to the roof of the mouth, and articulatory position defines where the consonant is formed, but the specific acoustic transitions are what directly shape and define the spectral characteristics of the consonant sounds.