Understanding the relationship of aerodynamic laws to
the unique geometry of the human vocal tract allows
us to make phonological and typological predictions
about speech sounds typified by particular
aerodynamic regimes. Some have argued that the
realization of nasalized fricatives is improbable
because fricatives and nasals have antagonistic
aerodynamic specifications. Fricatives require high
pressure behind the supralaryngeal
constriction as a precondition for high particle
velocity. Nasalization, on the other hand, vents back
pressure by allowing air to escape through the
velopharyngeal...