Information content, weighting and distribution in continuous speech prosody - A cross-genre comparison

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Kai-yun Chen ◽  
Wei-te Fang ◽  
Chiu-yu Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Continuous Speech ◽  
Speech Prosody

From speech to language

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-224
Author(s):  
Helen Kai-Yun Chen ◽  
Chiu-yu Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Information Distribution ◽  
Continuous Speech ◽  
Comprehensive Account ◽  
Alternative Function ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
Cognitive Explanation ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract This study proposes a novel exploration of perceived prosodic highlights in continuous speech, focusing on the alternative function of indexing and projecting information content deployment in the speech context. Given the assumption that prosodic highlight allocation directly reflects the interlocutors’ information content deployment, this study foregrounds perception-based prominences for indexing both the key information (KEY) and the projector (PJR) that projects the deployment of key/focal information. Two information content planning units (PJR plus its respective projection PJN, and KEY) prompted by prosodic highlights were established, based on quantitative analyses and discriminative acoustic features. Additional analyses confirm a general heavy-to-light information distribution across both units, showcasing that the relative projection trajectory size in the PJR-PJN unit is positively correlated to its position within discourse-prosodic units. Current results, therefore, directly substantiate the cognitive explanation of prosodic projection in speech, as evidence beyond syntactic relationships are drawn and prosodic projection is shown to involve perceived prosodic highlight allocation and information deployment in a fixed pattern. Explorations of prosody-prompted projection shed light on a more comprehensive account of the mechanism behind information planning, hence facilitating a deeper understanding of the composition of context prosody and the derivation of linguistic invariants from speech.

Speech and Prosody Characteristics of Adults with Mental Retardation

1990 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence D. Shriberg ◽  
Carol J. Widder
Keyword(s):  
Mental Retardation ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Cognitive Capacity ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Continuous Speech ◽  
Speech Prosody ◽  
Phonetic Transcription ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Alternative Sources ◽  
Intervention Programming

Audio-recorded continuous speech samples from forty 20–50-year-old noninstitutionalized persons with mental retardation were selected from a database of 192 samples. Descriptive data on segmental and suprasegmental characteristics were obtained using close phonetic transcription as input to linguistic analyses software. For this sample of adults with mental retardation, speech and prosody status were not statistically associated with gender or gross level of mental retardation, but were associated with estimated probability of independent living. Speech and prosody analyses and content analyses of transcribers’ comments yielded diacritic-level profiles of these speakers’ linguistic and paralinguistic behaviors in continuous speech. Additional analyses of the error data tested alternative sources of processing involvement within a four-stage speech production model. A cognitive capacity constraint, which limits the speaker’s ability to allocate resources to phonological encoding, is proposed as a sufficient explanation for the obtained pattern of token-to-token inconsistency of articulation. An additional sociolinguistic constraint is hypothesized to account for reduced prosodic and paralinguistic competence in continuous discourse. Both constraints are amenable to intervention programming. Findings fail to support the view that the potential for long-term speech prosody competence in individuals with mental retardation is limited by speech-motor constraints. Discussion includes intervention considerations in the context of current trends in special education.

Applications of Scanning Microscopy in Biomedical Research

1968 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 354-355
Author(s):  
T. L. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Biomedical Research ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dental Enamel ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Whole Mount ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
Content Information ◽  
Sectioned Tissue

Biomedical applications of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) have increased in number quite rapidly over the last several years. Studies have been made of cells, whole mount tissue, sectioned tissue, particles, human chromosomes, microorganisms, dental enamel and skeletal material. Many of the advantages of using this instrument for such investigations come from its ability to produce images that are high in information content. Information about the chemical make-up of the specimen, its electrical properties and its three dimensional architecture all may be represented in such images. Since the biological system is distinctive in its chemistry and often spatially scaled to the resolving power of the SEM, these images are particularly useful in biomedical research.In any form of microscopy there are two parameters that together determine the usefulness of the image. One parameter is the size of the volume being studied or resolving power of the instrument and the other is the amount of information about this volume that is displayed in the image. Both parameters are important in describing the performance of a microscope. The light microscope image, for example, is rich in information content (chemical, spatial, living specimen, etc.) but is very limited in resolving power.

IMAGE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MORDOVIA IN THE MEDIA VOLGA FEDERAL DISTRICT (BASED ON CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NEWS PUBLICATIONS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 44-52
Author(s):  
LARISA ZAITSEVA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Information Content ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Information Space ◽  
Political News ◽  
Social Sphere ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Number Of Publications

The territorial image is formed both purposefully by the subjects of image-making, and spontaneously-based on the influence of information content published in various media. The purpose of the research is to analyze the image of the Republic of Mordovia in the information space of the Volga Federal district. The image of the territory formed by external target audiences by means of news materials is studied using the method of case study and content analysis of publications: “Volga news”, “Federal Press” news of the PFD, “Pravda PFD”. The authors conclude that modern reality is perceived through the prism of the information field created by mass media. The media creates images filled with certain data, facts, colored by emotions, on the basis of which representations, opinions, judgments, and assessments are subsequently formed. The media play a significant role in shaping the territorial image, especially for external target audiences who are not familiar with the region and do not have their own assessment knowledge and experience. Most of the information content about the Republic in the studied media is related to the main thematic blocks: politics, economy, social sphere, culture (art, sports). Moreover, if in the publications “Volga news” and “Pravda PFD” mention of the region prevails in the economic block, then in the publications “Federal Press” and “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” - in the political one. The Volga news publication significantly dominates the rest in terms of the number of publications about Mordovia. The content of publications is mostly positive and neutral related to the issues of economic development of the territory and the preparation and holding of the world football championship. Pravda PFD mentions the Republic in the context of news from neighboring territories, most of the publications date back to 2018, but here the context is related to the Republic's positions among the regions of the PFD in various ratings. The publication “Federal-Press” forms a generally reflective image of the territory, focusing on the negative aspects of regional life. “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, giving priority to political news, maintains a neutral and reflective context of publications, paying attention to the key problems of the territory. Thus, the desired image of the region is counter-dictated to the image broadcast by the media through various information channels, so it is necessary to constantly monitor the information space and timely correction of the broadcast materials.

Saussurelaisen kielikäsityksen kritiikki

Virittäjä ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Laasanen
Keyword(s):  
Communication System ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Strong Form ◽  
Continuous Speech ◽  
Language Bias ◽  
Context Free ◽  
Ontological Concept

Artikkeli käsittelee saussurelaista kielikäsitystä kohtaan esitettyä kritiikkiä. Artikkelin tavoitteena on puolustaa saussurelaista kielikäsitystä ja esittää Saussure moni-puolisempana ajattelijana kuin mitä Kurssin vahvasti strukturalisesta luennasta voisi päätellä. Artikkelissa tarkastellaan käsitystä kielestä järjestelmänä (Saussuren langue), kontekstivapaata merkitystä, kirjoitetun kielen vääristymää (written language bias), Roy Harrisin kielimyyttiä sekä kielen dynaamisuutta. Artikkelissa esitetään, että langue on sekä metodologinen että ontologinen käsite, joka viittaa sekä kielen järjestäytymättömiin sääntöihin että kielitieteilijän niistä luomaan järjestelmään. Kontekstivapaan merkityksen osalta korostetaan sitä, että jonkinlainen merkityksen pysyvyys on välttämätön osa kieltä kommunikaatiojärjestelmänä. Artikkelissa argumentoidaan kirjoitetun kielen vääristymän vahvaa muotoa vastaan, jonka mukaan esimerkiksi puheen analysoiminen diskreeteiksi yksiköiksi johtuu kirjoitetun kielen vaikutuksesta. Harrisin kielimyytin osalta esitetään, että kyse ei ole Saussuren näkemyksistä vaan Harrisin tulkinnoista. Artikkelissa esitetään myös, että dynaamisuus ei ole yhteensopimaton käsite saussurelaisen kielikäsityksen kanssa.   On the critique of the Saussurean concept of language: some perspectives and counter-arguments The article deals with the critique of the Saussurean concept of language. The purpose of the article is to defend the Saussurean concept of language and to present Saussure as a more versatile thinker than may be assumed from a purely structuralist reading of Course. The article discusses the concept of language as a system (Saussure’s langue), the notion of context-free meaning, the so-called written-language bias, Roy Harris’ language myth, and the notion of dynamicity in language in relation to the Saussurean concept of language. The article begins by arguing that langue is both a methodological and an ontological concept that refers both to the unorganised rules of language and to the system of language rules as organised by the linguist. Second, the author asserts that some kind of permanence of meaning is essential to the concept of language as a communication system. Third, an argument is presented against the strong form of written-language bias, according to which, for instance, the analysis and reduction of continuous speech into discrete units is based on the model of written language. Fourth, the author posits that the language myth, developed by Harris, is not based on Saussure’s views but on Harris’ interpretation of Saussure’s views. The article ends with the contention that the notion of dynamicity is not incompatible with the Saussurean concept of language.

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