Prosodic marking of narrow focus across varieties of South African English

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Zerbian
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
South African ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Phonetic Variation ◽  
Narrow Focus ◽  
Production Study

This paper reports on an elicited production study which investigates prosodic marking of narrow focus in modified noun phrases in varieties of South African English. The acoustic analysis of fundamental frequency, intensity, and duration in narrow focus is presented and discussed. The results suggest that these three acoustic parameters are manipulated differently in narrow focus in the varieties of English as a Second Language as compared to General South African English. The article compares the results to what is known about prosodic marking of information structure in other varieties of English as a Second Language and underlines the necessity of carefully controlled data in the investigation of phonological and phonetic variation in varieties of English.

scholarly journals Information Structure and Word Order Preference in Child and Adult Speech of Mandarin Chinese

Languages ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Jidong Chen ◽  
Bhuvana Narasimhan ◽  
Angel Chan ◽  
Wenchun Yang ◽  
Shu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Mandarin Chinese ◽  
Word Order ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Late Development ◽  
Linguistic Markers ◽  
Production Study ◽  
Order Preference

The acquisition of appropriate linguistic markers of information structure (IS), e.g., word order and specific lexical and syntactic constructions, is a rather late development. This study revisits the debate on language-general preferred word order in IS and examines the use of language-specific means to encode IS in Mandarin Chinese. An elicited production study of conjunct noun phrases (NPs) of new and old referents was conducted with native Mandarin-speaking children (N = 24, mean age 4;6) and adults (N = 25, mean age 26). (The age of children is conventionally notated as years;months). The result shows that adults differ significantly from children in preferring the “old-before-new” word order. This corroborates prior findings in other languages (e.g., German, English, Arabic) that adults prefer a language-general “old-before-new” IS, whereas children disprefer or show no preference for that order. Despite different word order preferences, Mandarin-speaking children and adults resemble each other in the lexical and syntactic forms to encode old and new referents: bare NPs dominate the conjunct NPs, and indefinite classifier NPs are used for both the old and the new referents, but when only one classifier phrase is produced, it is predominantly used to refer to the new referents, which suggests children’s early sensitivity to language-specific syntactic devices to mark IS.

scholarly journals Pediatric voice-related quality of life and acoustic analysis of voice: a study in schoolchildren

Revista CEFAC ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suelene Cibelle Silva dos Reis ◽  
Giselle Frutuoso Nascimento ◽  
Zulina Souza de Lira ◽  
Adriana de Oliveira Camargo Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
The Self ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Noise Rate ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Research Population

ABSTRACT Purpose: to assess the self-reported voice-related quality of life of schoolchildren without voice complaints and correlate it to acoustic parameters of voice. Methods: the research population comprised 31 children, mean age 6.5 (±0.17) years. The children’s perception of their voice-related quality of life was verified with the Pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life Survey, which has 10 closed-ended questions and three domains. The acoustic parameters assessed were fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, glottal-to-noise excitation ratio, and noise rate, besides the phonatory deviation diagram, based on the analysis of the emission of the sustained vowel /ɛ/ for 5 seconds. Results: all the children obtained scores close to 100% in the three domains of the Pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life Survey. As for the acoustic parameters, most of them presented abnormal values in the phonatory deviation diagram and in shimmer. There was a difference between girls and boys only in fundamental frequency. Conclusion: the pediatric self-reported voice-related quality of life of the children studied had a positive impact, despite the acoustic changes found in the voices. There was no correlation between the pediatric voice-related quality of life and the acoustic parameters in voice in the group studied.

scholarly journals Occurrence of vocal changes in preschoolers with no voice complaints: an auditory-perceptual and acoustic analysis

Revista CEFAC ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Samanttha Cavalcanti do Nascimento ◽  
Giselle Frutuoso do Nascimento ◽  
Juliana Fernanda Dias da Silva ◽  
Sandro Júnior Henrique Lima ◽  
Zulina Souza de Lira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Statistical Association ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Perceptual Analysis ◽  
Perceptual Evaluation ◽  
Mild Degree ◽  
Voice Changes ◽  
Perceptual Assessment

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify, with the auditory-perceptual and acoustic parameters, the occurrence of voice changes in children with no voice complaints, per sex. Methods: the registers of 36 children with no voice complaints, aged 6 to 8 years, of whom 19 were males, were assessed. The databank consisted of the recordings of sustained vowels, sentences, and spontaneous speech. The auditory-perceptual analysis was conducted with the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice, and the acoustic analysis, with VoxMetria. The fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise, and glottal-to-noise excitation ratio were analyzed. The Mann-Whitney test was applied for numerical variables, and the McNemar test, for the categorical ones, at the p < 0.05 significance level. Results: of the 5 children with mild voice changes, 4 were males. The most frequent resonance deviation was the laryngopharyngeal one. There was no difference between the sexes in the auditory-perceptual findings. The fundamental frequency in the group with changes was lower than that in the group without changes. There was a statistical association between the changes in the auditory-perceptual assessment and the acoustic parameters. Conclusion: voice changes occurred in 13.89% of the studied sample of children with no voice complaints, without differences between the sexes in the auditory-perceptual parameters. Vocal deviations were in a mild degree in all children who had them, the most frequent ones being roughness and breathiness. The fundamental frequency and shimmer were the acoustic parameters whose values most often occurred outside the reference limits, in both genders.

Acoustic analysis of tracheo-oesophageal versus oesophageal speech

1994 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Debruyne ◽  
P. Delaere ◽  
J. Wouters ◽  
P. Uwents
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Spectrum ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Respiratory Drive ◽  
Spectral Slope ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Vocal Quality ◽  
Vibratory Pattern ◽  
The Voice

AbstractIn order to evaluate the vocal quality of tracheo-oesophageal and oesophageal speech, several objective acoustic parameters were measured in the acoustic waveform (fundamental frequency, waveform perturbation) and in the frequency spectrum (harmonic prominence, spectral slope). Twelve patients using tracheo-oesophageal speech (with the Provox® valve) and 12 patients using oesophageal speech for at least two months, participated.The main results were that tracheo-oesophageal voices more often showed a detectable fundamental frequency, and that this fundamental frequency was fairly stable; there was also a tendency to more clearly defined harmonics in tracheo-oesophageal speech. This suggests a more regular vibratory pattern in the pharyngo-oesophageal segment, due to the more efficient respiratory drive in tracheo-oesophageal speech. So, a better quality of the voice can be expected, in addition to the longer phonation time and higher maximal intensity.

scholarly journals Acoustic Prosodic Parameters in Japanese and Slovene: Accent and Intonation

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-44
Author(s):  
Nina GOLOB
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Signal ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Prosodic Features ◽  
Acoustic Parameters

The study investigates realizations of the three acoustic parameters, duration, fundamental frequency and intensity, in relation to accent and intonation in Japanese and Slovene. Ten native speakers of each language pronounced nonsense words of different accentual patterns placed within the declarative-interrogative intonational context. Results of the acoustic analysis reveal clear differences in behavior of the three parameters under various conditions, and suggest the following phonological differences between the two languages: 1. Prosodic features realizing accent and intonation differ, 2. Interaction between accent and intonation differs, and 3. Prosodic features function uniformly within different units of successive segments, the so-called prosodic units. However, looking into the overall characteristics of the acoustic signal, certain similarities are also observed. The study anticipates that the above phonological differences, especially those realized as phonetic similarities represent a great difficulty in acquisition of L2 prosody, and specific examples of a possible L1 interference are provided.

scholarly journals Acoustic analysis of voice in children with cochlear implants

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (suppl. 1) ◽  
pp. 32-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Miljkovic ◽  
Mila Veselinovic ◽  
Ivana Sokolovac ◽  
Dragan Dankuc ◽  
Zoran Komazec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Speech Development ◽  
Voice Pitch ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Noise Ratio ◽  
Hearing Children

Introduction. The focus of this study was the analysis of objective acoustic characteristics of voice in children with cochlear implants. The objective of this study was to compare acoustic parameters of voice in children with cochlear implants and normal hearing children of the same age, and to determine differences, if there were any. Material and Methods. There were 60 children (aged from 6 to 13) included in this prospective study. They were divided into 2 groups: children with cochlear implants (30) and normal hearing children with normal speech development (30). The most stable voice sample was analyzed using a software program Dr Speech: Vocal Assessment. Objective acoustic analysis of voice included 13 acoustic parameters. Results. Standard deviation of fundamental frequency was significantly (p=0.000) higher in children with cochlear implants, as well as the values of harmonic to noise ratio (p=0.003) and signal to noise ratio (p=0.000) parameters. Values of jitter %, shimmer %, normalized noise energy, fundamental frequency tremor and amplitude tremor showed no significant differences between the two groups. However, the values of parameters that refer to voice frequency (habitual fundamental frequency, mean fundamental frequency, min fundamental frequency and max fundamental frequency) and the mean value of voice intensity (p=0.004), were significantly higher in the boys and the girls with cochlear implants than in the normal hearing children. Conclusion. Gender non-related parameters of hoarseness did not show significant differences between the children with cochlear implants and the normal hearing children; the results of cochlear implantation and voice and speech education were therefore positive. However, the children with cochlear implants of both gender showed significantly higher values of voice intensity, voice pitch and insufficient control of voice pitch variation.

Teaching South African Sign Language as a second language to university students: an integrated pedagogy

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marga Stander ◽  
Annemarie Le Roux
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Sign Language ◽  
South African ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Specific Method ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
Popular Language ◽  
Output Hypothesis

Abstract South African Sign Language (SASL) has become an increasingly popular language that hearing university students want to learn as a second language. This requires more qualified SASL instructors and new curricula at South African universities. This paper considers ways in which challenges associated with the teaching and learning of SASL can be overcome. Krashen’s Comprehension Input Hypothesis and Swain’s Output Hypothesis form the theoretical framework as reference to our own independent experience, praxis, and reflection. This study considered different teaching methods and pedagogies and found the post-method approach suggested by Kumaravadivelu (2003) a viable method for teaching SASL as a second language. This method aligns with the method we had independently identified as the most empowering for teachers to create their own strategies focused on their intuition, experiences and pedagogy. Therefore, we do not favour one specific method above another, but rather adopt an integrated approach. We make a few suggestions regarding sign language curriculum content and further research in sign language as an L2, which need urgent attention.

Perception of expressive prosodic speech acts performed in USA english by L1 and L2 speakers

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-45
Author(s):  
Donna Erickson ◽  
Albert Rilliard ◽  
João Antônio de Moraes ◽  
Takaaki Shochi
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Cultural Comparison ◽  
Cross Cultural Comparison ◽  
Frequency Code ◽  
Cross Language ◽  
L1 And L2

Attitudes have been described for different languages, with varying labels or contexts of occurrence for same labels. It renders cross-cultural comparison uncertain. A corpus was designed to bypass these limitations. This paper focuses on USA English produced by L1 and L2 speakers. The best performances in 9 attitudes are used in a forced-choice test, in both audio and visual modalities. Results show that 6 categories group the presented attitudes in coherent sets. The cultural origin affects marginally the categorisation of the expressions. An acoustic analysis of the fundamental frequency and intensity allows to test the predictions of two theoretical propositions – the Frequency code and the Effort code. It concludes to a main coherence of cross-language expressivity, and discusses differences. For negative expressions of imposition, L1 speakers follow the Frequency code – and L1 listeners expect this; L2 speakers use the Effort code in the same situations, leading to confusions in the audio-only modality. Differences for seduction and irony are also discussed.

scholarly journals Initial laryngeal neutralisation in Tyrolean

Phonology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Vietti ◽  
Birgit Alber ◽  
Barbara Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Final Position ◽  
Acoustic Cues ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Place Of Articulation ◽  
Closure Duration

In the Southern Bavarian variety of Tyrolean, laryngeal contrasts undergo a typologically interesting process of neutralisation in word-initial position. We undertake an acoustic analysis of Tyrolean stops in word-initial, word-medial intersonorant and word-final contexts, as well as in obstruent clusters, investigating the role of the acoustic parameters VOT, prevoicing, closure duration and F0 and H1–H2* on following vowels in implementing contrast, if any. Results show that stops contrast word-medially via [voice] (supported by the acoustic cues of closure duration and F0), and are neutralised completely in word-final position and in obstruent clusters. Word-initially, neutralisation is subject to inter- and intraspeaker variability, and is sensitive to place of articulation. Aspiration plays no role in implementing laryngeal contrasts in Tyrolean.

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