Loops are well known as the elliptical tongue fleshpoint paths in vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV) sequences with a velar consonant. However, the discussion about the relative influences of aerodynamics, active motor control and biomechanics on loops is controversial. In order to characterize the biomechanical influence, the design of the current study was specifically based on V1-V2-V1 sequences with no consonants involved, recorded by means of electromagnetic articulography (EMA). In this context, we found evidence that the loop shape varies systematically with the angle of the main movement line between the vowels V1 and V2. Moreover, the regular angle-dependence of the loop shape is examined for eleven male and seven female German adults under different conditions for speaking rate (normal and slow) and for jaw mobility (large, small and no bite block). Model simulations suggest that both the loops and the angle-dependence of their shape can be attributed to biomechanical properties of the extrinsic tongue muscles.

循环是带有元音辅音的元音-辅音-元音（VCV）序列中的椭圆形舌肉点路径。但是，有关空气动力学，主动电动机控制和生物力学对回路的相对影响的讨论是有争议的。为了表征生物力学影响，本研究的设计专门基于不包含辅音的V1-V2-V1序列，并通过电磁关节造影（EMA）进行记录。在这种情况下，我们发现有证据表明，环形形状随着元音V1和V2之间的主运动线的角度而系统地变化。此外，还针对11位德国男性和7位德国成年人在不同条件下的说话速度（正常和慢速）和下颌活动度（大，小且无咬合）。模型仿真表明，环路及其形状的角度相关性都可以归因于外在舌头肌肉的生物力学特性。