scholarly journals Perception of the bilabial-labiodental contrast in the approximant consonants of the Chilean Spanish

Loquens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e067
Author(s):  
Mauricio A. Figueroa Candia ◽  
Bronwen G. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Identification Task ◽  
Place Of Articulation ◽  
Natural Stimuli ◽  
Chilean Spanish ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

Until recently, the consensus was that labiodental realizations of Spanish /b/ did not exist, and that consequently this variation in place of articulation could be safely disregarded. However, new evidence emerged showing that labiodental variants of /b/ do exist in relatively high numbers, at least in some dialects such as in Chilean Spanish. This study set out to determine whether Chilean Spanish listeners are able to perceive the differences between bilabial and labiodental approximant variants of Spanish /b/ (i.e., [β̞] versus [ʋ]). In order to test this, natural and synthetic stimuli were presented to 31 native listeners in identification and discrimination tasks. Results showed that, while the identification task with natural stimuli provided mixed evidence of sensitivity to the contrast, the identification and discrimination tasks with synthetic stimuli provided no evidence of listeners perceiving the phonetic contrast categorically. In sum, listeners do no seem able to perceive the acoustic differences between the two segments, and thus it is unlikely that this phonetic contrast could be employed to encode sociolinguistic information.

scholarly journals Trajectories of faithfulness in child-specific phonology

Phonology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Becker ◽  
Anne-Michelle Tessier
Keyword(s):  
Phonological Acquisition ◽  
Place Of Articulation ◽  
Consonant Harmony ◽  
Phonological Learning ◽  
Computational Implementation ◽  
New Evidence

AbstractThis paper provides new evidence and analysis of gradual and U-shaped phonological learning. Using a rich longitudinal corpus from Trevor (Compton & Streeter 1977, Pater 1997b) we demonstrate that some of Trevor's consonant harmony follows a statistically significant U-shaped trajectory, in contrast to the more typical S-shaped progression of his complex onsets. We then analyse these two developmental paths using an OT model of phonological acquisition (Hayes 2004, Prince & Tesar 2004, Tessier 2007, 2009), in which the learner's variation within and across stages is the effect of stored old productions rather than a variable grammar. The decrease in Trevor's faithfulness to place of articulation due to consonant harmony is attributed to the induction of a new constraint during the course of learning. Our analysis is paired with a computational implementation, showing how competition between old forms and the current grammar allows the model to derive both S-shaped and U-shaped patterns.

Systematic effects in observed parallaxes

1978 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
R. B. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Error Estimates ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Absolute Zero ◽  
Apparent Magnitude ◽  
Coherent System ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
General Catalogue ◽  
Systematic Effects ◽  
New Evidence ◽  
Right Ascension

Several outstanding problems affecting the existing parallaxes should be resolved to form a coherent system for the new General Catalogue proposed by van Altena, as well as to improve luminosity calibrations and other parallax applications. Lutz has reviewed several of these problems, such as: (A) systematic differences between observatories, (B) external error estimates, (C) the absolute zero point, and (D) systematic observational effects (in right ascension, declination, apparent magnitude, etc.). Here we explore the use of cluster and spectroscopic parallaxes, and the distributions of observed parallaxes, to bring new evidence to bear on these classic problems. Several preliminary results have been obtained.

Semi-synthesis as a tool for broadening the health applications of bioactive olive secoiridoids: a critical review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Oliverio ◽  
Monica Nardi ◽  
Maria Luisa Di Gioia ◽  
Paola Costanzo ◽  
Sonia Bonacci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Synthetic Analogues ◽  
Health Applications ◽  
Natural And Synthetic

Semi-synthesis is an effective strategy to obtain both natural and synthetic analogues of the olive secoiridoids, starting from easy accessible natural compounds.

Effects of Aging on the Subcortical Encoding of Stop Consonants

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-403
Author(s):  
Dania Rishiq ◽  
Ashley Harkrider ◽  
Cary Springer ◽  
Mark Hedrick
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Auditory Brainstem ◽  
Auditory Brainstem Responses ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Place Of Articulation ◽  
Second Formant ◽  
Effects Of Aging

Purpose The main purpose of this study was to evaluate aging effects on the predominantly subcortical (brainstem) encoding of the second-formant frequency transition, an essential acoustic cue for perceiving place of articulation. Method Synthetic consonant–vowel syllables varying in second-formant onset frequency (i.e., /ba/, /da/, and /ga/ stimuli) were used to elicit speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses (speech-ABRs) in 16 young adults ( M age = 21 years) and 11 older adults ( M age = 59 years). Repeated-measures mixed-model analyses of variance were performed on the latencies and amplitudes of the speech-ABR peaks. Fixed factors were phoneme (repeated measures on three levels: /b/ vs. /d/ vs. /g/) and age (two levels: young vs. older). Results Speech-ABR differences were observed between the two groups (young vs. older adults). Specifically, older listeners showed generalized amplitude reductions for onset and major peaks. Significant Phoneme × Group interactions were not observed. Conclusions Results showed aging effects in speech-ABR amplitudes that may reflect diminished subcortical encoding of consonants in older listeners. These aging effects were not phoneme dependent as observed using the statistical methods of this study.

Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Naturalness in Speakers of Varying Gender Identities

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 2054-2069
Author(s):  
Brandon Merritt ◽  
Tessa Bent
Keyword(s):  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Identification Accuracy ◽  
Rating Task ◽  
Gender Identification ◽  
Identification Task ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Perceptual Evaluation ◽  
Speech Training ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Speech Naturalness

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate how speech naturalness relates to masculinity–femininity and gender identification (accuracy and reaction time) for cisgender male and female speakers as well as transmasculine and transfeminine speakers. Method Stimuli included spontaneous speech samples from 20 speakers who are transgender (10 transmasculine and 10 transfeminine) and 20 speakers who are cisgender (10 male and 10 female). Fifty-two listeners completed three tasks: a two-alternative forced-choice gender identification task, a speech naturalness rating task, and a masculinity/femininity rating task. Results Transfeminine and transmasculine speakers were rated as significantly less natural sounding than cisgender speakers. Speakers rated as less natural took longer to identify and were identified less accurately in the gender identification task; furthermore, they were rated as less prototypically masculine/feminine. Conclusions Perceptual speech naturalness for both transfeminine and transmasculine speakers is strongly associated with gender cues in spontaneous speech. Training to align a speaker's voice with their gender identity may concurrently improve perceptual speech naturalness. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12543158

Stimulus Ratio Effects on Speech Discrimination by Children and Adults

1991 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 671-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan E. Sussman
Keyword(s):  
Discrimination Task ◽  
Response Pattern ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Speech Discrimination ◽  
Adult Group ◽  
Discrimination Accuracy ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Response Strategies ◽  
Place Of Articulation ◽  
Adults And Children

This investigation examined the response strategies and discrimination accuracy of adults and children aged 5–10 as the ratio of same to different trials was varied across three conditions of a “change/no-change” discrimination task. The conditions varied as follows: (a) a ratio of one-third same to two-thirds different trials (33% same), (b) an equal ratio of same to different trials (50% same), and (c) a ratio of two-thirds same to one-third different trials (67% same). Stimuli were synthetic consonant-vowel syllables that changed along a place of articulation dimension by formant frequency transition. Results showed that all subjects changed their response strategies depending on the ratio of same-to-different trials. The most lax response pattern was observed for the 50% same condition, and the most conservative pattern was observed for the 67% same condition. Adult response patterns were most conservative across condition. Differences in discrimination accuracy as measured by P(C) were found, with the largest difference in the 5- to 6-year-old group and the smallest change in the adult group. These findings suggest that children’s response strategies, like those of adults, can be manipulated by changing the ratio of same-to-different trials. Furthermore, interpretation of sensitivity measures must be referenced to task variables such as the ratio of same-to-different trials.

MERLIN Finds New Evidence of Ranolazine Safety

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
BRUCE JANCIN
Keyword(s):  
New Evidence

Vaccination for travellers – new evidence and recommendations

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 362-366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matius P. Stürchler ◽  
R. P. Steffen
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
New Evidence

Impfungen sind einfache und effektive Maßnahmen zur Verhinderung von Reisekrankheiten. Compliance-Probleme sind gering, da alle Impfungen noch vor Abreise verabreicht werden und bei manchen Impfungen nur eine Dosis für den zuverlässigen Schutz nötig ist. Für jeden Reisenden sind die Hepatitis A- und die Diphtherie-Tetanus-Impfung empfohlen, für Asien und Afrika auch die Polioimpfung. Bei Reisen >30 Tagen, jüngeren Personen und Reisenden mit Risikoverhalten sollte immer auch eine Hepatitis B-Impfung, eventuell als Kombination mit Hepatitis A in Betracht gezogen werden. Je nach Reisestil, -destination und -dauer können auch weitere Impfungen wie z.B. die Typhus-, Tollwut-, Zeckenenzephalitis-, Grippe-, Masern-Mumps-Röteln-, Gelbfieber-, Meningokokkenmeningitis- und die Japanische Enzephalitis-Impfung in Frage kommen. Mehrere Impfungen können gleichzeitig verabreicht werden – eine Staffelung ist nicht nötig. i BAG Supplementum VI, Stand Juli 2000 «Impfungen für Auslandreisende»; http://www.admin.ch/bag/infekt/prev/reisemed/index.htm; Safetravel http://www.safetravel.ch; Tropimed

Combining the Post-Cue Task and the Perceptual Identification Task to Assess Parallel Activation and Mutual Facilitation of Related Primes and Targets

2018 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demian Scherer ◽  
Dirk Wentura
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Priming ◽  
Stimulus Onset ◽  
The Other ◽  
Perceptual Identification ◽  
Identification Task ◽  
Priming Effects ◽  
Priming Paradigm ◽  
Parallel Activation ◽  
Prime Target

Abstract. Recent theories assume a mutual facilitation in case of semantic overlap for concepts being activated simultaneously. We provide evidence for this claim using a semantic priming paradigm. To test for mutual facilitation of related concepts, a perceptual identification task was employed, presenting prime-target pairs briefly and masked, with an SOA of 0 ms (i.e., prime and target were presented concurrently, one above the other). Participants were instructed to identify the target. In Experiment 1, a cue defining the target was presented at stimulus onset, whereas in Experiment 2 the cue was not presented before the offset of stimuli. Accordingly, in Experiment 2, a post-cue task was merged with the perceptual identification task. We obtained significant semantic priming effects in both experiments. This result is compatible with the view that two concepts can both be activated in parallel and can mutually facilitate each other if they are related.

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