[A photoelectric investigation of velar height during vowel articulation: first applications of the velograph (author's transl)].

Some methodological aspects of the main physiological techniques for investigating the velopharyngeal closure mechanism are discussed. A new instrument for optical registration of velar movement is described. The possibilities and limits arising from its mode of operation are discussed. First results corroborate the relation between velar height and tongue height in vowels, which has been established by cineradiographic research. It is argued that the velograph records relative velar height in the speech continuum with reasonable accuracy. Two ways of calibrating the device are proposed so as to allow the measurement of absolute velar elevation (from rest position).