scholarly journals Hausa vowels and dipthongs

1985 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-182
Author(s):  
Mona Lindau-Webb
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Short Vowels ◽  
Trinomial Equation

Acoustic properties of Hausa vowels and diphthongs from several speakers are investigated. The results show that Hausa is best described as having a five vowel system, where the five basic vowels have the qualities of the long vowels. Long vowels are derived as double basic vowels. The qualities of the short vowels are significantly different from those of the long vowels, but these quality differences can be accounted for by an undershoot mechanism in the speech production. The diphthong /au/ is modeled, using the formant frequencies of /a/ and /u/ with an interpolation in accordance with a trinomial equation. The diphthong /ai/ is mostly realized as a long [e:] phonetically.

Changes in the Human Vocal Tract Due to Aging and the Acoustic Correlates of Speech Production

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 689-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve An Xue ◽  
Grace Jianping Hao
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Acoustic Reflection ◽  
Dimensional Changes ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Age Related

This investigation used a derivation of acoustic reflection (AR) technology to make cross-sectional measurements of changes due to aging in the oral and pharyngeal lumina of male and female speakers. The purpose of the study was to establish preliminary normative data for such changes and to obtain acoustic measurements of changes due to aging in the formant frequencies of selected spoken vowels and their long-term average spectra (LTAS) analysis. Thirty- eight young men and women and 38 elderly men and women were involved in the study. The oral and pharyngeal lumina of the participants were measured with AR technology, and their formant frequencies were analyzed using the Kay Elemetrics Computerized Speech Lab. The findings have delineated specific and similar patterns of aging changes in human vocal tract configurations in speakers of both genders. Namely, the oral cavity length and volume of elderly speakers increased significantly compared to their young cohorts. The total vocal tract volume of elderly speakers also showed a significant increment, whereas the total vocal tract length of elderly speakers did not differ significantly from their young cohorts. Elderly speakers of both genders also showed similar patterns of acoustic changes of speech production, that is, consistent lowering of formant frequencies (especially F1) across selected vowel productions. Although new research models are still needed to succinctly account for the speech acoustic changes of the elderly, especially for their specific patterns of human vocal tract dimensional changes, this study has innovatively applied the noninvasive and cost-effective AR technology to monitor age-related human oral and pharyngeal lumina changes that have direct consequences for speech production.

Spanish mid vowels as sociolinguistic variables in Galicia

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica de la Fuente Iglesias ◽  
Susana Pérez Castillejo
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Identity Performance ◽  
Production Theory ◽  
Social Meaning ◽  
Social Variables ◽  
Vowel Production

Abstract This paper analyzes the acoustic properties of Spanish stressed mid vowels from a corpus of over 2,800 tokens produced by Galician-dominant bilinguals and Spanish monolinguals. Following principles of bilingual speech production theory, we explore whether these vowels present lexically conditioned open variants [ɛ] and [ɔ] not present in monolingual Spanish. In combination with linguistic factors, we also examine whether bilingual mid-vowel production in our corpus is related to social variables. Assuming a linguistic repertoires perspective that links variation to identity performance, we argue that Spanish /e/ and /o/ are sociolinguistic variables in Galicia and that the distribution of their variants can be exploited to perform social meaning.

Acoustic Integrity of Speech Production in Children With Moderate and Severe Hearing Impairment

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Ryalls ◽  
Annie Larouche
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Impairment ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Voice Onset Time ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Onset Time ◽  
Hearing Impaired ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Standard Deviations

Ten normally hearing and 10 age-matched subjects with moderate-to-severe hearing impairment were recorded producing a protocol of 18 basic syllables [/pi/,/pa/,/pu/; /bi/,/ba/,/bu/; /ti/,/ta/,/tu/; /di/,/da/,/du/; /ki/,/ka/,/ku/; /gi/,/ga/,/gu/] repeated five times. The resulting 90 syllables were digitized and measured for (a) total duration; (b) voice-onset time (VOT) of the initial consonant; (c) fundamental frequency (F 0 ) at midpoint of vowel; and (d) formant frequencies (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 ), also measured at midpoint of vowel. Statistical comparisons were conducted on (a) average values for each syllable, and (b) standard deviations. Although there were numerical differences between normally hearing and hearing-impaired groups, few differences were statistically significant.

scholarly journals Hypoarticulation in infant-directed speech

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
KJELLRUN T. ENGLUND
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Statistical Analyses ◽  
Large Sample ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Short Vowels ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Selective Increase ◽  
Natural Situation

ABSTRACTAn established finding in research on infant-directed speech (IDS) is that vowels are hyperarticulated compared to adult-directed speech (ADS). Studies showing this investigate point vowels, leaving us with a rather weak foundation for concluding whether IDS vowels are hyperarticulated within a particular language. The aim of this study was to investigate a large sample of vowels in IDS and to elicit speech in a natural situation for mother and infant. Acoustical and statistical analyses for /æ:, æ, ø:, ɵ, o:, ɔ, y:, y, ʉ:, ʉ, e:, ɛ/ show a selective increase in formant frequencies for some vowel qualities. In addition, vowels had higher fundamental frequency and were generally longer in IDS, but the difference between long and short vowels were comparable between IDS and ADS. With an additional front articulation and less lip protrusion in IDS compared to ADS, it is argued that IDS is hypoarticulated.

scholarly journals A New Approach to the Formant Measuring Problem

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marnix Van Soom ◽  
Bart de Boer
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Spectrum Analysis ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Measurement Problem ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Frequency Components ◽  
Error Bars

Formants are characteristic frequency components in human speech that are caused by resonances in the vocal tract during speech production. They are of primary concern in acoustic phonetics and speech recognition. Despite this, making accurate measurements of the formants, which we dub “the formant measurement problem” for convenience, is as yet not considered to be fully resolved. One particular shortcoming is the lack of error bars on the formant frequencies’ estimates. As a first step towards remedying this, we propose a new approach for the formant measuring problem in the particular case of steady-state vowels—a case which occurs quite abundantly in natural speech. The approach is to look at the formant measuring problem from the viewpoint of Bayesian spectrum analysis. We develop a pitch-synchronous linear model for steady-state vowels and apply it to the open-mid front unrounded vowel [ɛ] observed in a real speech utterance.

Formant frequency characteristics in Palestinian Arabic-speaking aphasics

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-328
Author(s):  
Hisham Adam
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
The West ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Short Vowels ◽  
Vowel Space ◽  
Palestinian Arabic ◽  
Arabic Speaking

The aim of this paper is to examine the acoustic characteristics of Arabic vowels as produced by Palestinian Arabic-speaking Broca’s aphasics compared to normal speakers. Five subjects diagnosed with Broca’s aphasia and five normal speakers residing in the West Bank participated in this study. The subjects produced 240 vowel tokens of the eight Arabic vowels (/i:/, /i/, /e:/, /a:/, /a/, /o:/, /u:/ and /u/,). The samples were analyzed using PRAAT and the formants F1 and F2 of the eight Arabic vowels were measured. F1 and F2 values were compared to the data in the literature. Comparisons among speakers of Palestinian Arabic indicated that Broca’s aphasics’ formant frequencies were significantly different to those of normal speakers, showing that formant frequencies of F1 and F2 are generally higher among Broca’s aphasics compared to the control group. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the acoustic vowel space of Broca’s aphasics is more centralized compared to the control subjects. The results also indicate that Broca’s aphasics were able to maintain the phonemic contrast between the long and short vowels. In general, the results may contribute to neurolinguistic research across different languages, especially given that Palestinian Arabic is studied significantly less than other Arabic dialects. Furthermore, the results may have clinical applications when evaluating and/or treating Palestinian Arabic-speaking Broca’s aphasics.

Acoustic properties of vowels in Upper Necaxa Totonac

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Michelle García-Vega ◽  
Benjamin V. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Vowel Quality ◽  
Vowel Length ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Acoustic Data ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Second Formant

Upper Necaxa Totonac is a Totonacan language spoken in the Necaxa River valley in the Sierra Norte of Puebla State, Mexico. While the Totonacan languages historically have three phonemic vowel qualities, the Upper Necaxa system consists of five vowels that contrast length and laryngealization. With acoustic data from six native speakers from the Totonacan communities of Patla and Chicontla, we explore the phonetic properties of vowels with respect to the first and second formant frequencies, quantity (duration), vowel phonation (modal vs. laryngeal), and stress. The data indicate that long, short, modal and laryngeal vowels occupy a similar formant space and that duration is the primary phonetic correlate of phonemic vowel length. A shift in vowel quality and an increase in duration and pitch were shown to be the acoustic characteristics of stress. The study provides a first acoustic analysis of vowels in Upper Necaxa, and contributes to typological descriptions of the properties of vowels connected with quality, quantity, stress, and phonation.

An Auditory-Feedback-Based Neural Network Model of Speech Production That Is Robust to Developmental Changes in the Size and Shape of the Articulatory System

2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Callan ◽  
Ray D. Kent ◽  
Frank H. Guenther ◽  
Houri K. Vorperian
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Network Model ◽  
Neural Network Model ◽  
Auditory Feedback ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Target Space ◽  
Auditory Target

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that self-produced auditory feedback is sufficient to train a mapping between auditory target space and articulator space under conditions in which the structures of speech production are undergoing considerable developmental restructuring. One challenge for competing theories that propose invariant constriction targets is that it is unclear what teaching signal could specify constriction location and degree so that a mapping between constriction target space and articulator space can be learned. It is predicted that a model trained by auditory feedback will accomplish speech goals, in auditory target space, by continuously learning to use different articulator configurations to adapt to the changing acoustic properties of the vocal tract during development. The Maeda articulatory synthesis part of the DIVA neural network model (Guenther et al., 1998) was modified to reflect the development of the vocal tract by using measurements taken from MR images of children. After training, the model was able to maintain the 11 English vowel targets in auditory planning space, utilizing varying articulator configurations, despite morphological changes that occur during development. The vocal-tract constriction pattern (derived from the vocal-tract area function) as well as the formant values varied during the course of development in correspondence with morphological changes in the structures involved with speech production. Despite changes in the acoustical properties of the vocal tract that occur during the course of development, the model was able to demonstrate motor-equivalent speech production under lip-restriction conditions. The model accomplished this in a self-organizing manner even though there was no prior experience with lip restriction during training.

Some acoustic effects of speaking style on utterances for automatic speaker verification

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Dankovičová ◽  
Francis Nolan
Keyword(s):  
Speaker Verification ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Training Phase ◽  
Vowel Quality ◽  
Cognitive Stress ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Digit Sequence ◽  
Speaking Style

This paper reports the results of an experiment on the effects of six speaking styles on some of the acoustic properties of speech. The experiment was part of an exploration of within-speaker variation in connection with automatic speaker verification (ASV), pursuing the hypothesis that the elicitation of style variation in the training phase of an ASV system (‘structured training’) would enhance the performance of the system. Swedish-speaking subjects produced a digit sequence at varying speaking rates and loudness levels, and also with simulated denasality (pinched nose) and under cognitive stress. Duration of vowels and consonants, and formant frequencies of vowels, were measured. A number of consistent patterns of variation emerged for duration and vowel quality and are reported here. The discussion explores the relation between the patterns observed and the success, or in the case of speech under stress the failure, of structured training in reducing the error rates in ASV.

Bioacoustic cues and their relations to dominance rank in Père David’s deer stags

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 971 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Liu ◽  
Zhigang Jiang ◽  
Linyuan Zhang ◽  
Zhenyu Zhong ◽  
Xiaoge Ping ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Acoustic Properties ◽  
Acoustic Features ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Père David’S Deer ◽  
Vocal Intensity ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Polygynous Mating System

The vocal display of male animals during the breeding season has received particular attention. To find out whether male acoustic signals could be a quality-assessment cue of callers, we conducted a study on Père David’s deer (Elaphurus davidianus) characterised by a polygynous mating system and high male–male competition during the rutting season. We investigated the relationship between the stag’s acoustic properties and the dominance rank as an indication of quality. Results showed that (1) there were two types of calls, the common roar and the chasing bark, (2) there was no significant difference between the call duration of the common roar and the chasing bark among different dominance ranks, (3) in the common roar, the value of the fundamental frequency, formant frequencies and formant spacing decreased significantly with the rise of dominance ranks and (4) vocal intensity of the common roar differed significantly among the three dominance ranks such as the harem master, the challengers and the bachelors. Our results suggested that some acoustic features, such as formant frequencies, formant spacing and vocal intensity of the common roar were closely related to the dominance rank and could be effective indicators of male competitive ability.

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