The Super-Segmentals
ðə suprəsegmentals
MAG'STRATE SPEAKN'-RATE
&
VOW'L "The Gav'l" REDUCTION
SUPRA-SEGMENTAL POWER
Mag'strate Speakn'-Rate protects your right to a speedy trial under the 6th Amendment. He serves up justice faster than you can say "delay-between-the-presentation-of-the-indictment-or-similar-charging-instrument-and-the-beginning-of-trial."
ACTUAL DEFINITION
Speaking Rate is measured in words per second, syllables per second, or phonemes per second. As speaking rate increases, segment durations decrease. The reduced segment duration and reduced range of articulatory motion might result in compromised pauses, vowels, and consonant segments.
EXAMPLE
We all have had professors who talk very slowly, and other professors who couldn't get any faster if they tried.
SUPRA-SEGMENTAL POWER
The Gav'l is the long arm of the law and it comes down hardest on extraneous vow'ls.
ACTUAL DEFINITION
As speaking rate increases or stress decreases, vowels are “reduced” by articulatory changes.
EXAMPLE
If we speak quickly, our vowels are reduced, if we speak deliberately, our vowels maintain their individual sounds... You can even maintain consonants this way like my one friend who insists on saying “exacTly”