Multidimensional analysis of similarity data was applied to the domain of spoken consonants. Listeners responded to productions of their own consonants in terms of the similarity of the consonants to each other. Estimates of psychological distances between consonants were derived from the similarity responses. The distances were used to construct an auditory space, Euclidean in nature, for the consonants. Coordinates of the consonants in the space were of the appropriate dimensionality necessary to account for distances between consonants. Articulatory data were utilized to identify the dimensions. Manner of articulation was the first and most important auditory dimension. Voicing and place of articulation served to identify subsequent dimensions.

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