scholarly journals Perception of gesturally different Mandarin retroflexes by Taiwan Mandarin speakers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhe-chen Guo
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Taiwan Mandarin ◽  
Pedagogical Implication ◽  
Perceptual Difference ◽  
Mandarin Speakers ◽  
First Moment

This paper reports results from a study investigating whether there is a perceptual difference between gesturally different Mandarin retroflexes. Previous studies have suggested that there are two articulatory manners for Mandarin retroflexes: One involves the tongue tip being “curled-up,” and the other the tongue body being “bunched-up.” Thus, by implementing a perception test on Taiwan Mandarin listeners and an acoustic analysis, the research determines whether retroflexes produced with these gestures will be perceived differently. The resultsdings then show that “curled-up” and “bunched-up” retroflexes are not perceptually contrastive at a phonological level. However, the latter are perceived to be phonetically more retroflexed, with such property of stronger retroflexion reflected in their lower M1 (first moment) values. These findings yield one pedagogical implication. The teaching of retroflex articulations can be made reference to the gesture with which Mandarin learners can produce with more ease.

Conversion from a non-indwelling to a Provox®2 indwelling voice prosthesis for speech rehabilitation: comparison of voice quality and patient preference

2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 815-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Vlantis ◽  
R. T. Gregor ◽  
H. Elliot ◽  
M. Oudes
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Patient Preference ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Voice Prosthesis ◽  
Technical Aspects ◽  
Speech Rehabilitation ◽  
Perceptual Difference ◽  
The Voice

This prospective study assessed the advantages and problems associated with converting a patient using an older generation non-indwelling voice prosthesis to a newer generation indwelling voice prosthesis, in this case the Provox®2. The voice characteristics of each patient were measured using the old and then the new voice prosthesis. Technical aspects of the insertion of the indwelling prosthesis were noted. Each patient completed a questionnaire after a period of use with the indwelling prosthesis.Changing the prosthesis was simple and uncomplicated in 15 of 17 patients. Acoustic analysis showed improved parameters with the indwelling prosthesis, but no perceptual difference between the two prostheses. The questionnaire revealed that most patients preferred the indwelling prosthesis.Replacing a non-indwelling with an indwelling prosthesis is technically simple, leading to improvement in voice quality and patient satisfaction. It may be reasonable to offer this choice to patients currently using an older generation non-indwelling voice prosthesis.

Mandarin-speaking three-year-olds' demonstration of productive knowledge of syntax: evidence from syntactic productivity and structural priming with the SVO-ba alternation

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1115-1146 ◽  
Author(s):  
DONG-BO HSU
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Order Effects ◽  
Structural Priming ◽  
Input Frequency ◽  
Early Acquisition ◽  
Mandarin Speakers

ABSTRACTTwo studies investigated syntactic productivity in three-year-old Mandarin speakers' use of verbs in the SVO and SbaOV constructions. In Study 1, children were taught novel verbs in one construction and assessed for their production in the other construction. Children produced verbs taught in the ba constructions in SVO utterances, but showed order effects when producing verbs taught in SVO constructions in ba utterances. In Study 2, children described animated scenes either with structural priming (i.e., after hearing verbs in SVO or ba constructions). Children demonstrated structural priming, producing more SVO and ba utterances, respectively, directly after hearing verbs in these constructions. These results indicate that Mandarin speaking three-year-olds demonstrate productive knowledge of both SVO and SbaOV constructions. Their ability to override the predominant input frequency of SVO runs counter to a purely usage-based account of early acquisition of grammar.

Maternal Accommodation in Infant-Directed Speech during Mother's and Twin-Infants' Vocal Interactions

2003 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 481-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuko Niwano ◽  
Kuniaki Sugai
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Vocal Response ◽  
Vocal Responses ◽  
Fraternal Twin ◽  
Maternal Speech ◽  
Vocal Interactions ◽  
Vocal Fundamental Frequency ◽  
At Home

In this study a mother's instinctive accommodations of vocal fundamental frequency (f0) of infant-directed speech to two different infants was explored. Maternal speech directed to individual 3-mo.-old fraternal twin-infants was subjected to acoustic analysis. Natural samples of infant-directed speech were recorded at home. There were differences in the rate of infants' vocal responses. The mother changed her f0 and patterns of intonation contour when she spoke to each infant. When she spoke to the infant whose vocal response was less frequent than the other infant, she used a higher mean f0 and a rising intonation contour more than when she spoke to the other infant. The result suggested that the mother's speech characteristic is not inflexible and that the mother may use a higher f0 and rising contour as a strategy to elicit an infant's less frequent vocal response.

Second language speakers’ awareness of their own comprehensibility

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-373
Author(s):  
Lauren Strachan ◽  
Sara Kennedy ◽  
Pavel Trofimovich
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
The Other ◽  
Task Repetition ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Second Language Speakers ◽  
Self Assessments ◽  
Mandarin Speakers ◽  
Task Content

Abstract This study investigated whether second language (L2) speakers are aware of and can manipulate aspects of their speech contributing to comprehensibility. Forty Mandarin speakers of L2 English performed two versions of the same oral task. Before the second task, half of the speakers were asked to make their speech as easy for the interlocutor to understand as possible, while the other half received no additional prompt. Speakers self-assessed comprehensibility after each task and were interviewed about how they improved their comprehensibility. Native-speaking listeners evaluated speaker performances for five dimensions, rating speech similarly across groups and tasks. Overall, participants did not become more comprehensible from task 1 to task 2, whether prompted or not, nor did speakers’ self-assessments become more in line with raters’, indicating speakers may not be aware of their own comprehensibility. However, speakers who did demonstrate greater improvement in comprehensibility received higher ratings of flow, and speakers’ self-ratings of comprehensibility were aligned with listeners’ assessments only in the second task. When discussing comprehensibility, speakers commented more on task content than linguistic dimensions. Results highlight the roles of task repetition and self-assessment in speakers’ awareness of comprehensibility.

scholarly journals Intonational Patterns of Nonverbal Vocalizations in People With Dementia

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 563-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Samuelsson ◽  
Lars C. Hydén
Keyword(s):  
Disruptive Behavior ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Pitch Range ◽  
Interactional Pattern ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Nonverbal Vocalizations ◽  
The Mean

Nonverbal vocalizations in dementia are important clinically since they generally have been regarded as disruptive behavior that is disturbing. The aim of the present study is to describe the interactional pattern, including the prosodic package, of nonverbal vocalizations in a participant in a late stage of dementia. The acoustic analysis shows that the vocalizations do not differ significantly from the verbal utterances regarding mean fundamental frequency or pitch range. The mean fundamental frequency, F0, of the utterances from Anna was significantly higher than the mean F0 from the other elderly participants. The analysis demonstrates that there is a singing-like type of vocalizations that does not resemble the previously described patterns of nonverbal vocalizations. This pattern of the nonverbal vocalization does not resemble the intonation of Anna’s verbal utterances. The other participants perceive Anna’s vocalizations as potentially meaningful turns. Nonverbal vocalizations in clinical settings should be taken as communicative contributions.

scholarly journals Application of low Intensity laser Associated with Exercise with High-Strength Tube in the Vocal Treatment of Transgender Women: Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Del Castilo ◽  
◽  
Thaís. Lopes João ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Transgender Women ◽  
The Other ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Informed Consent Form ◽  
Intensity Laser

Introduction: Voice is a determining factor for transgender women to be able to communicate and be recognized by the other as belonging to the desired gender. In voice clinic, exercises of semi-occluded vocal tract and technological resources that act in an adjunct manner are used, aiming to promote better phonatory adjustments, raising the fundamental frequency and vocal tract adjustments such as resonance, intensity, articulation, speed, among others. The work of the speech therapist requires an expanded vision, seeking the integration between voice and body. The present study seeks to understand how the modulation process for acute pitch occurs upon using exercise with a high-strength tube associated with the therapeutic resource of low intensity laser, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of these two tools when used simultaneously. Material and Methods: The research was based on a case study of a transgender woman. The therapy was based on the application of low intensity laser associated with the use of exercise with high strength tube. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee and the participant signed the Informed Consent Form. Anamnesis, application of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQ) and evaluation before and after the application of the techniques were performed, through acoustic analysis of the vocal signal and auditory-perceptive evaluation, through the Vocal Profile Analysis (VPA) Protocol. Results and Discussion: There was an increase in variability in the categories of pitch and loudness, absence of crackling and improvement in energy distribution after therapy. The patient used greater voice breathing and there was a predominance in the distribution of articulatory adjustments. Conclusion: Speech therapy promoted an election of the vocal pitch, modified the characteristics of vocal quality and dynamics and generated a sound fluency for the female. It was possible to observe that the greatest change occurred in an auditory way, interfering in the acoustic impression that the other has in relation to this voice, that is, the greatest gain was in the sound filter

scholarly journals The Influence of Guttural Consonants /χ/, /ħ/, and /h/ on Vowel /a/ in Saudi Arabic

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Haroon N. Alsager
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Unified Model ◽  
The Other ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Natural Class ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Second Formant ◽  
Saudi Arabic

This paper presents a comparative study which investigates the influence of Saudi Arabic guttural consonants /χ/, /ħ/ and /h/ on the vowel /a/ when they are adjacent and in the same syllable. Cohn (2007, 2009), Flemming (2001), and Keating (1996) discuss a unified model in which phonology and phonetics are treated as two distinct elements of one domain where each element has an effect on the other to some degree. McCarthy (1991, 1994), Rose (1996), Zawaydeh (1999, 2004), and BinMuqbil (2006) presented phonological studies on gutturals, as well as discussions on gutturals as a natural class, which uphold the phonological aspect of Cohn’s (2009) unified model. The aim of this study is to address the phonetic aspect of Cohn’s (2009) unified model by analyzing the phonetic effects of guttural-vowel coarticulation. An acoustic analysis method was used as a framework for this investigation to extract first formant frequency (F1) and second formant frequency (F2) to measure the influence in the coarticulation. For the purpose of this study, seven native Saudi Arabic speakers were recorded pronouncing 70 Saudi Arabic words. The results showed that guttural consonants have an influence on the vowel /a/ by lowering and backing it when they are adjacent and in the same syllable, while the vowel /a/ in the nonguttural consonants is raising and fronting their adjacent vowel /a/ in the same syllable in comparison with the vowel /a/ in the guttural environment.

scholarly journals "With Sincere Reverence": A Christological Perspective for the Interreligious Dialogue Envisioned by Nostra Aetate

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Gamberini, SJ
Keyword(s):  
Religious Experience ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Interreligious Dialogue ◽  
The Other ◽  
Experience Of God ◽  
First Moment ◽  
The Church ◽  
Third Moment ◽  
Practical Dimension

Theologians have a particular task to provide discernment when expressing in interreligious dialogue the Christological proclamation that Jesus Christ is "'the way, the truth, and the life,' (Jn 14:6), in whom people may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself" (Nostra Aetate, §3). Therefore, there is a need to renew the spirit of the Conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate,, which reminds us that the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in the other religions. The Church acknowledges with sincere reverence ("sincera cum observantia") that the other often religions reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all people. In this article, I highlight three different moments in which this sincere reverence towards other religions may be realized. The first moment may be called methodological and refers to the Ignatian tradition of the Spiritual Exercises. I develop first of all the praesupponendum (presupposition) as an attitude of being able to listen to the religious experience of the other; then the contemplatio ad amorem (contemplation in attaining love), as awareness and recognition of the action of the Spirit: being able to distinguish the religious experience of God from its theoretical and practical interpretations; finally the magis, the continuing transcending of the religious conscience in reaching out God: Deus semper maior (God is always greater). The second moment of my paper is more theoretical. I deal with the question of Truth within the interreligious dialogue and how God’s ineffable transcendence and otherness have been revealed in this Jesus of Nazareth; "No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him" (Jn 1:18). The humanity of God, Jesus’ particularity, is not a limitation for interreligious dialogue, but constitutes an adequate perspective for determining the universality of Jesus Christ. The third moment considers the practical dimension of the dialogue. I relate the inner otherness of God (Trinity) with God’s becoming other than himself (Incarnation), showing how the evangelical praxis of the believer, who makes himself everything for everybody, is able in the praxis, more than in theory, to sustain the eschatological tension between the already and not yet that is characteric of interreligious dialogue.

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