Praxis SLP Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Practice Test

Question: 1 / 400

What is the expected center of gravity for a sibilant fricative?

At the center of the spectrum

Off-center in the spectrum

Lower than its skewness

Higher than its skewness

For a sibilant fricative, the expected center of gravity is higher than its skewness. This is due to the characteristics of sibilant fricatives, which are produced with a high-frequency noise component. The center of gravity, a measure that represents the average frequency of the sound energy, tends to be located at a higher frequency because sibilants like /s/ and /ʃ/ involve prominent energy concentrated in the higher frequency regions of the auditory spectrum.

The skewness of a sound spectrum indicates how frequencies are distributed, and for sibilants, this distribution is typically skewed towards the higher frequencies. Consequently, the center of gravity being higher than the skewness reflects the dominance of higher frequencies in the acoustic output of sibilant fricatives. Understanding this relationship is critical for speech-language pathology, as it helps in the assessment and treatment of speech sound disorders that involve these types of sounds.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta
Next Question

Report this question

Download Praxis SLP License Practice Exam PDF Study Guide
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy