US4768959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of teaching and transcribing of language through the use of a periodic code of language elements
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-10-27
•
Granted: 1988-09-06
•
Expires: 2006-10-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method used in language skills development are described. A periodic table of forty-five language elements is presented. The periodicity of the elements is described in terms of articulation mechanisms. Photographs of mouth pattern and voice frequency information are provided for each language element. The two major families of vowels and consonants are preserved and emphasized on phonomats. These phonomats are designed to reinforce the relationship among the language elements. Alternate spellings, specially encoded, are provided to enable the student to pronounce new words and sentences based on his prior familiarity with the symbol and sound bets presented on the periodic table of language elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Sprague
- 👤 Joan Sprague
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:56
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B19/00; G09B19/04; G09B17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for teaching and enunciation of a major family of language elements known as consonants which apparatus comprises: a substrate upon which a plurality of language elements are arranged in a rectangular array having twenty-seven positions, said array characterized by a left hand side having eight consonant language element pairs wherein the individual language elements of said left hand side consonant pairs are identically articulated but differently voiced, and said array is further characterized by a right hand side having four distinct groups of consonant language elements, said right hand groups known as "nasals," "vowel-tone," "wind" and "consonant doubles," said right hand groups differentiated by kinesthetic requirements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for teaching and enunciation of a major family of language elements known as consonants which apparatus comprises: a substrate upon which a plurality of language elements are arranged in a rectangular array having twenty-seven positions, said array characterized by a left hand side having eight consonant language element pairs wherein the individual language elements of said left hand side consonant pairs are identically articulated but differently voiced, and said array is further characterized by a right hand side having four distinct groups of consonant language elements, said right hand groups known as "nasals," "vowel-tone," "wind" and "consonant doubles," said right hand groups differentiated by kinesthetic requirements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the language elements are arranged on said substrate in substantially the following format: ______________________________________
-p -b --ch -j --m -n --ng
-t -d --sh --si -h -l -r
-k -g -s -z --w -y
-f -v --th --th -x -x --qu.
______________________________________
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each language element position on said substrate further comprises a frequency indicator symbol, said symbol related to the voicing requirements of the language element corresponding to said array position.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for teaching and enunciation of a major family of language elements known as vowels which apparatus comprises: a substrate upon which a plurality of vowel language elements are arranged in a substantially W-shaped array having eighteen positions, said array characterized by three types of vowel langauge element positions, stable vowel positions marked with solid-lined boxes, straight-slider vowel positions marked with solid lined boxes containing an arrow, and cross-slider vowels marked with broken lined boxes, wherein the individual vowel language element positions of said array are arranged to correspond to a tongue position during articulation of that vowel language element, the tongue position defined in terms of spatial coordinates using two axis, the first having front, central and back coordinates, the second axis having high, mid and low coordinates.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for teaching and enunciation of a major family of language elements known as vowels which apparatus comprises: a substrate upon which a plurality of vowel language elements are arranged in a substantially W-shaped array having eighteen positions, said array characterized by three types of vowel langauge element positions, stable vowel positions marked with solid-lined boxes, straight-slider vowel positions marked with solid lined boxes containing an arrow, and cross-slider vowels marked with broken lined boxes, wherein the individual vowel language element positions of said array are arranged to correspond to a tongue position during articulation of that vowel language element, the tongue position defined in terms of spatial coordinates using two axis, the first having front, central and back coordinates, the second axis having high, mid and low coordinates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the language elements are arranged on said substrate in substantially the following format: ##STR1##
Claim 8
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for teaching and transcription of language which comprises: a first substrate upon which a plurality of language elements are arranged in a rectangular array having twenty-seven positions, said array characterized by a left hand side having eight consonant language element pairs wherein the individual language elements of said left hand side consonant pairs are identically articulated but differently voiced, and said array is further characterized by a right hand side having four distinct groups of consonant langauge elements, said right hand groups known as "nasals," "vowel-tone," "wind" and "consonant doubles," said right hand groups differentiated by kinesthetic requirements; and a second substrate upon which a plurality of vowel language elements are arranged in a substantially W-shaped array having eighteen positions, said array characterized by three types of vowel language element positions, stable vowel positions marked with solid-lined boxes, straight-slider vowel positions marked with solid lined boxes containing an arrow, and cross-slider vowels marked with broken lined boxes, wherein the individual vowel language element positions of said array are arranged to correspond to a tongue position during articulation of that vowel language element, the tongue position defined in terms of spatial coordinates using two axis, the first axis having front, central and back coordinates, the second axis having high, mid and low coordinates.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
214 words
A system for teaching and transcription of language which comprises: a first substrate upon which a plurality of language elements are arranged in a rectangular array having twenty-seven positions, said array characterized by a left hand side having eight consonant language element pairs wherein the individual language elements of said left hand side consonant pairs are identically articulated but differently voiced, and said array is further characterized by a right hand side having four distinct groups of consonant langauge elements, said right hand groups known as "nasals," "vowel-tone," "wind" and "consonant doubles," said right hand groups differentiated by kinesthetic requirements; and a second substrate upon which a plurality of vowel language elements are arranged in a substantially W-shaped array having eighteen positions, said array characterized by three types of vowel language element positions, stable vowel positions marked with solid-lined boxes, straight-slider vowel positions marked with solid lined boxes containing an arrow, and cross-slider vowels marked with broken lined boxes, wherein the individual vowel language element positions of said array are arranged to correspond to a tongue position during articulation of that vowel language element, the tongue position defined in terms of spatial coordinates using two axis, the first axis having front, central and back coordinates, the second axis having high, mid and low coordinates.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A method of teaching and enunciation of language elements using the system of claim 6 which comprises the steps of: (a) providing the system of claim 6; (b) presenting sounds associated with each of the langauge elements of the system of claim 6; (c) introducing the articulation mechanism, mouth pattern and tongue position associated with the sounds of each language element; (d) introducing a symbolic representation for each language element; and (e) relating said language element articulation mechanism to the symbol position of the language element in the system of claim 6.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US660255A
Cited
US1087336A
Cited
US1590998A
Cited
GB1138821A
Cited
US3367045A
Cited
US4180337A
Cited
GB1585218A
Cited
US4193212A
Cited
CH651504A5
Cited
US4650423A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-06 | 1992-03-07 | 1992-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-03-07 | 1996-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-06 | 2000-03-07 | 2000-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |