42 research outputs found

    A large-scale analysis of the acoustic-phonetic markers of speaker sex.

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    The research for this thesis lies within the fieIa of speaker characterisation through the acoustic-phonetic analysis of speech. The thesis consists of two parts: 1. An inv.estigation of the acoustic-phonetic differences between the speech of women and men; 2. An examination of the practicalities of automating the investigation to analyse a large speech database. The acoustic-phonetic markers of speaker sex examined here are the fundamental frequency, the formant frequencies, and the relative amplitude of the first harmonic. The aims of the investigation were, firstly, to establish to what extent these markers differentiate between the sexes, and secondly, to examine the extent of between- and within-speaker deviation from the female and male norms, or average values for each sex. These points were investigated by an automated acoustic-phonetic analysis of the TIMIT database, involving a data set of almost 16,000 segments of speech. An automated method was dev~loped to enable the signal processing and statistical analysis of a data set of this size. The problems to be encountered in the analysis of a highly variable data source (i.e. the acoustic speech waveform) are addressed

    An exploration of the rhythm of Malay

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    In recent years there has been a surge of interest in speech rhythm. However we still lack a clear understanding of the nature of rhythm and rhythmic differences across languages. Various metrics have been proposed as means for measuring rhythm on the phonetic level and making typological comparisons between languages (Ramus et al, 1999; Grabe & Low, 2002; Dellwo, 2006) but the debate is ongoing on the extent to which these metrics capture the rhythmic basis of speech (Arvaniti, 2009; Fletcher, in press). Furthermore, cross linguistic studies of rhythm have covered a relatively small number of languages and research on previously unclassified languages is necessary to fully develop the typology of rhythm. This study examines the rhythmic features of Malay, for which, to date, relatively little work has been carried out on aspects rhythm and timing. The material for the analysis comprised 10 sentences produced by 20 speakers of standard Malay (10 males and 10 females). The recordings were first analysed using rhythm metrics proposed by Ramus et. al (1999) and Grabe & Low (2002). These metrics (∆C, %V, rPVI, nPVI) are based on durational measurements of vocalic and consonantal intervals. The results indicated that Malay clustered with other so-called syllable-timed languages like French and Spanish on the basis of all metrics. However, underlying the overall findings for these metrics there was a large degree of variability in values across speakers and sentences, with some speakers having values in the range typical of stressed-timed languages like English. Further analysis has been carried out in light of Fletcher’s (in press) argument that measurements based on duration do not wholly reflect speech rhythm as there are many other factors that can influence values of consonantal and vocalic intervals, and Arvaniti’s (2009) suggestion that other features of speech should also be considered in description of rhythm to discover what contributes to listeners’ perception of regularity. Spectrographic analysis of the Malay recordings brought to light two parameters that displayed consistency and regularity for all speakers and sentences: the duration of individual vowels and the duration of intervals between intensity minima. This poster presents the results of these investigations and points to connections between the features which seem to be consistently regulated in the timing of Malay connected speech and aspects of Malay phonology. The results are discussed in light of current debate on the descriptions of rhythm

    Broadcast speech and the effect of voice quality on the listener : a study of the various components which categorise listener perception by vocal characteristics.

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    Voice quality is crucial to the art of the broadcast speaker. Acceptable voice quality is a necessity for an acceptable microphone voice and essential therefore for employment as a broadcaster. This thesis investigates the characteristics of the voice which provide that acceptability; and categorises the features which lead the listener to make judgements about their vocal likes and dislikes. These subjective judgements are explored by investigating the psychological, medical, and innate features contributing to the vocal perceptions of the listener. Voice quality is related to the efficiency of the larynx and its importance to voice production; and to the various vocal disorders which can affect the broadcaster. It becomes evident throughout the thesis that each listener receives a clear impression of the personality of the speaker through the features present in the voice. Many of these impressions however are based on stereotypes. The thesis relates these stereotypical judgements to accents, investigating their relationship to the 'BBC' voice, the 'World Service' voice, the 'ILR' voice and the 'reporter's voice' . It is shown that the listener's subjective impression of the voice and the broadcaster personality is formed by the presentational and physical aspects of voice quality. Listener perceptions of voice acceptability are tested and discussed. The data is analysed to provide a set of dominant characteristics from which are drawn voice histograms and frequency polygons. The result is a set of preferred voice characteristics which apply specifically to the broadcast speaker and which can be sought during the selection process

    Maintenance of speech in Parkinson’s disease: The impact of group therapy

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    Models and analysis of vocal emissions for biomedical applications

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    This book of Proceedings collects the papers presented at the 3rd International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications, MAVEBA 2003, held 10-12 December 2003, Firenze, Italy. The workshop is organised every two years, and aims to stimulate contacts between specialists active in research and industrial developments, in the area of voice analysis for biomedical applications. The scope of the Workshop includes all aspects of voice modelling and analysis, ranging from fundamental research to all kinds of biomedical applications and related established and advanced technologies

    Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications

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    The MAVEBA Workshop proceedings, held on a biannual basis, collect the scientific papers presented both as oral and poster contributions, during the conference. The main subjects are: development of theoretical and mechanical models as an aid to the study of main phonatory dysfunctions, as well as the biomedical engineering methods for the analysis of voice signals and images, as a support to clinical diagnosis and classification of vocal pathologies

    Input and Output in Oral Reading in English : the Interaction of Syntax, Semantico-pragmatics and Intonation

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    This dissertation provides an integrated linguistic description of reading intonation, in which input and output are equally considered. There are therefore two main points of interest. On the one hand, there are the medium-independent abstract presentation structures of words and syntactic structures, and their medium-dependent presentation via orthography and punctuation. On the other hand, there is a consideration of different reading performances, and of the fact that the written text can be orally presented in different ways. It is the aim of this thesis to compile these different modes of presentation and to pin down their assessment in a linguistic model. For this purpose, the presentation structural device of the ‘talk unit’ is modified and used for a systematic investigation of the interaction of syntax, semantico-pragmatics and discourse intonation (placement of tone unit boundaries, of nuclei as well as choice of tone movements and their situation in a speaker’s pitch range) in a corpus comprising typical domains of oral reading (Speech, News, Commentary, Fiction). This thesis also deals with the use of obtrusive pauses (segmentation, anticipation, hesitation) as well as with the respective influence of medium-independent presentation structures and punctuation on a reader’s own presentation in the spoken medium.In dieser Dissertation geht es um eine integrierte linguistische Beschreibung von Leseintonation, bei der Input und Output gleichermaßen berücksichtigt werden. Gegenstand der Untersuchung ist daher einmal die mediumunabhängige abstrakte sprachliche Kette von Wörtern und Strukturen und deren mediumabhängige Präsentation durch Orthographie und Interpunktion. Zum anderen wird berücksichtigt, dass es unterschiedliche Leseleistungen gibt, dass also die intonatorische Präsentation der geschriebenen Vorlage auf unterschiedliche Weise geschehen kann. Diese Variationsmöglichkeiten sowie deren Bewertung in einem linguistischen Modell zu erfassen hat sich die vorliegende Arbeit zum Ziel gesetzt. Hierzu wird das präsentationsstrukturelle Mittel der Redeeinheit (’talk unit’) modifiziert und eingesetzt für eine systematische Untersuchung der Interaktion von Syntax, Semantiko-Pragmatik und der Diskurs-Intonation (Platzierung der Sprechtaktgrenzen, der Nuklei sowie Wahl der Tonbewegungen und deren Platzierung im Stimmumfang eines Sprechers) anhand eines Korpus, das sich aus typischen Anwendungsbereichen des lauten Lesens zusammensetzt (Rede, Nachrichtentexte, Kommentare, fiktive Texte). Zusätzlich wird der Einsatz von auffälligen Pausen (Segmentierung, Antizipation, Zögern) untersucht sowie das Ausmaß des Einflusses von mediumunabhängigen Strukturen einerseits und mediumabhängigen graphischen Strukturen (Interpunktion) andererseits auf die Umsetzung im gesprochenen Medium

    The theory of language and speech

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    Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications

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    The International Workshop on Models and Analysis of Vocal Emissions for Biomedical Applications (MAVEBA) came into being in 1999 from the particularly felt need of sharing know-how, objectives and results between areas that until then seemed quite distinct such as bioengineering, medicine and singing. MAVEBA deals with all aspects concerning the study of the human voice with applications ranging from the neonate to the adult and elderly. Over the years the initial issues have grown and spread also in other aspects of research such as occupational voice disorders, neurology, rehabilitation, image and video analysis. MAVEBA takes place every two years always in Firenze, Italy. This edition celebrates twenty years of uninterrupted and succesfully research in the field of voice analysis
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