Melanie Weirich | Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (original) (raw)
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Despite various studies describing longer segment durations and slower speaking rates in females ... more Despite various studies describing longer segment durations and slower speaking rates in females than males there appears to be a stereotype of women speaking faster than men. To investigate the mismatch between empirical evidence and this widespread stereotype, listening experiments were conducted to test whether a relationship between perceived tempo and acoustic vowel space size might exist. If a speaker traverses a larger acoustic vowel space than another speaker within the same time then this speaker might be perceived as speaking faster. To test this, two listening experiments with either exclusively female or male speakers but with varying vowel space sizes were conducted. Listeners were asked to rate the perceived speech tempo of same-sex speaker pairs. The stimuli were manipulated to have the same segment durations and f0 contour. Results indicate that a positive correlation between acoustic vowel space and perceived speech tempo exists. Since females exhibit on average a larger acoustic vowel space than males, it is suggested that the stereotype of faster speaking women might arise from this.
Journal of Applied …, 1948
... Seuss (1955) found inconclusive results in studying feline reactions to hats. Ciccone (1986) ... more ... Seuss (1955) found inconclusive results in studying feline reactions to hats. Ciccone (1986) found inconclusive results in studying feline reactions to hairy legs. ... How researchers see a much looked-upon lady. by Alice Shirrell Kaswell, Improbable Research staff. ...
Experimental Linguistics ExLing 2008, 2008
Young (mean= 22.9, SD= 1.9), 2012
Young multi-ethnolectal speakers of Hamburg-German introduced an alternation of /ç/ to [ʃ] follow... more Young multi-ethnolectal speakers of Hamburg-German introduced an alternation of /ç/ to [ʃ] following a lax front vowel /ɪ/ [1]. We conducted perception studies exploiting this contrast in Berlin (Germany), a city with large multi-ethnic neighborhoods. This alternation is pervasive and noticeable, it is mocked and stigmatized and there is an awareness that many young speakers (including ethnically Germans) from neighborhoods with larger migrant populations like Kreuzberg (KB) substitute /ç/ with /ʃ/ while speakers from less stigmatized vicinities like Zehlendorf (ZD) do not.
Annals of Improbable …, 2010
Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, 2013
A recent observation of multi-cultural urban German speech as spoken in Berlin is that the diphth... more A recent observation of multi-cultural urban German speech as spoken in Berlin is that the diphthong /oy/ is realized more centralized and fronted compared to the standard variety of Berlin German. For this study, spontaneous speech data was collected through standardized interviews from 11 female speakers from different neighborhoods in Berlin. Their speech was orthographically transcribed and added to a database that allows for searching for all occurrences of the diphthong in it's naturally occurring context in unscripted speech. So far, 654 occurrences of these vowels have been analyzed. Measurements of the first and second formants were taken at five equally distanced points throughout the diphthong. Linear mixed effects models were run with different points across the F2-formant as the dependent variable in the two varieties of German. The second formant serves as an estimate of the degree of fronting in the two varieties of German. Results indicate that the nucleus of the /oy/ is realized more centralized in Hood German compared to a standard variety of Berlin German when the speaker associates with the community that is highly associated with this vernacular. Speakers use the centralization of /oy/ as a linguistic marker of their local urban identity.
neon.niederlandistik.fu-berlin.de
… the regular and the particular in …, 2010
It is assumed that the rate at which speakers articulate is constrained by physiological factors ... more It is assumed that the rate at which speakers articulate is constrained by physiological factors such as the mass of an articulator and the distance an articulator must travel, by linguistic factors such as the utterance's phonetic complexity and by cognitive factors. We carried out an articulatory study using Electromagnetic Articulography (EMA) with a simultaneous acoustic recording of a single speaker who has practiced various tongue twisters for more than 40 years. Acoustic results indicate that our speaker can achieve up to 10 syllables per second in some tongue twisters. Comparing the articulatory results in normal versus fast speech it turned out that our subject either reduces movement amplitudes or uses a combination of reduction in movement amplitude and peak velocity, depending on the articulator involved and the particular sound. Although in fast speech movement amplitudes are generally reduced, they are still relatively large. Thus, we conclude that maintaining large movement amplitudes may be one strategy to avoid speech errors or articulatory reorganization, both of which are common in fast speech. 1
The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between speaking fundament... more The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between speaking fundamental frequency and acoustic vowel space size, thus testing a possible perceptual source of sex-specific differences in acoustic vowel space size based on the greater inter-harmonic spacing and a poorer definition of the spectral envelope of higher pitched voices. Average fundamental frequencies and acoustic vowel spaces of 56 female German speakers are analyzed. Several parameters are used to quantify the size and shape of the vowel space defined by /iː ε aː ɔ uː/ such as the area of the polygon spanned by the five vowels, the absolute difference in F1 or F2 between /iː/ and /uː/ or /aː/, and the Euclidian distance between /iː/ and /aː/. In addition, the potential impact of nasality on the vowel space size is examined. Results reveal no significant correlation between fundamental frequency and vowel space size suggesting other factors must be responsible for the larger female acoustic vowel space.
The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the amount of inter-speaker variability in th... more The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the amount of inter-speaker variability in the articulation of monozygotic twin pairs (MZ), dizygotic twin pairs (DZ), and pairs of unrelated twins with the goal of examining in greater depth the influence of physiology on articulation. Physiological parameters are assumed to be very similar in MZ twin pairs in contrast to DZ twin pairs or unrelated speakers, and it is hypothesized that the speaker specific shape of articulatory looping trajectories of the tongue is at least partly dependent on biomechanical properties and the speaker's individual physiology. By means of electromagnetic articulography (EMA), inter-speaker variability in the looping trajectories of the tongue back during /VCV/ sequences is analyzed. Results reveal similar looping patterns within MZ twin pairs but in DZ pairs differences in the shape of the loop, the direction of the upward and downward movement, and the amount of horizontal sliding movement at the palate are found.
This study examines articulatory and acoustic inter-speaker variability in the production of the ... more This study examines articulatory and acoustic inter-speaker variability in the production of the German vowels /i/, /u/ and /a/. Our subjects are 3 monozygotic twin pairs (2 female and 1 male pair) and 2 dizygotic female twin pairs. All of them were born, raised and are still living in Berlin and see their twin brother or sister regularly. We assume that monozygotic twins that are genetically identical and share the same physiology should be more similar in their articulation than dizygotic twins but that the shared time and social environment of twins, regardless of their genetic similarity, also plays a crucial role in the acoustic similarity of twins. Articulatory measurements were made with EMA (Electromagnetic Articulography) and the target positions of the produced vowels were analyzed. Additionally, the formants F1-F4 of each vowel were measured and compared within the twin pairs. Our data seems to point out the importance of a shared environment and the strong influence of learning over the anatomical identity of the monozygotic twins regarding the production of vowels. But, additional results suggest (1) the impact of physiology on the production of a vowel following a velar consonant and (2) the interaction of physiology and stress in inter-speaker variability.
We conducted an AX-discrimination task to test for differences in perceived auditory similarity i... more We conducted an AX-discrimination task to test for differences in perceived auditory similarity in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs and unrelated speakers. In addition, we performed acoustic analyses to find acoustic correlates that explain the differences in perceived similarity.
for speech perception the articulatory targets/movements and neural commands for production of sp... more for speech perception the articulatory targets/movements and neural commands for production of speech are seen to be crucial Preliminary results:
In Berlin German, the identification of /ç/ as in Fichte 'spruce' versus the alveopalatal fricati... more In Berlin German, the identification of /ç/ as in Fichte 'spruce' versus the alveopalatal fricative /ʃ/ in fischte (3. sg. past tense) 'to fish' is influenced by what neighborhood in Berlin hearers believe a speaker comes from (KB: Kreuzberg: multi-ethnic, multi-cultural or ZD: Zehlendorf: mono-ethnic, upscale, affluent area) and the inferences made as to how the speaker is likely to realize these two variants. Our results indicate that listeners adjust their interpretation of synthesized acoustic continua in accordance with their expectation, strongly suggesting that both perceptual cues and inferred social factors play a role in the categorization of speech stimuli. Thus, the results show that the mere suggestion of where the speaker may come from even within the confines of a city is enough to trigger such inferences.
The work presented in this dissertation set out to evaluate articulatory, acoustic and perceptual... more The work presented in this dissertation set out to evaluate articulatory, acoustic and perceptual similarities and differences among monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. In this respect, this dissertation contributes to the discussion of the impact of NATURE versus NURTURE on the production and perception of speech in general and on inter-speaker variability in particular. It is acknowledged that the sample is too small to offer a complete and generalisable account of the effect of nature/nurture on speech. Rather, it should be viewed as
The purpose of this study is to further explore the understanding of speaker-specific realization... more The purpose of this study is to further explore the understanding of speaker-specific realizations of the /s/-/ʃ/ contrast in relation to individual morphological differences. In particular, we investigate the relationship between individual palate shape and the realization of the contrast in a) twins and b) a more heterogenous speaker group by means of Electromagnetic Articulography and Electropalatography. Our results are twofold: first, similar palate morphologies such as in identical twins yield in similar articulatory realizations of this phoneme contrast regarding vertical and horizontal distance of the target tongue tip positions. Second, palatal height, anterior width of the palate, and palatal doming in the region where the contrast is produced influence its realization. Hence, a speaker's articulatory realization of the sibilant contrast is not only influenced by speaker-specific auditory and somatosensory acuity but also by individual morphological constraints of the vocal tract.
German speakers receive different ratings in their perceived vocal attractiveness and personality... more German speakers receive different ratings in their perceived vocal attractiveness and personality characteristics. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the perceived personality attributions of 32 German listeners and find acoustic cues that correlate to these attributions. The attributed opposition pairs on which the speakers were judged were reduced by a cluster analysis to two factors: dominance (e.g. "confident", "competent") and benevolence (e.g. "sensitive", "helpful"). The acoustic investigation of the voices of 4 male speakers revealed the impact of several acoustic parameters on the ratings. Among others, the harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) and breathy vocal onsets were most important for high ratings on benevolence. High ratings on dominance showed strong correlations to low mean F0 and strong glottal impulses.
Despite various studies describing longer segment durations and slower speaking rates in females ... more Despite various studies describing longer segment durations and slower speaking rates in females than males there appears to be a stereotype of women speaking faster than men. To investigate the mismatch between empirical evidence and this widespread stereotype, listening experiments were conducted to test whether a relationship between perceived tempo and acoustic vowel space size might exist. If a speaker traverses a larger acoustic vowel space than another speaker within the same time then this speaker might be perceived as speaking faster. To test this, two listening experiments with either exclusively female or male speakers but with varying vowel space sizes were conducted. Listeners were asked to rate the perceived speech tempo of same-sex speaker pairs. The stimuli were manipulated to have the same segment durations and f0 contour. Results indicate that a positive correlation between acoustic vowel space and perceived speech tempo exists. Since females exhibit on average a larger acoustic vowel space than males, it is suggested that the stereotype of faster speaking women might arise from this.
Journal of Applied …, 1948
... Seuss (1955) found inconclusive results in studying feline reactions to hats. Ciccone (1986) ... more ... Seuss (1955) found inconclusive results in studying feline reactions to hats. Ciccone (1986) found inconclusive results in studying feline reactions to hairy legs. ... How researchers see a much looked-upon lady. by Alice Shirrell Kaswell, Improbable Research staff. ...
Experimental Linguistics ExLing 2008, 2008
Young (mean= 22.9, SD= 1.9), 2012
Young multi-ethnolectal speakers of Hamburg-German introduced an alternation of /ç/ to [ʃ] follow... more Young multi-ethnolectal speakers of Hamburg-German introduced an alternation of /ç/ to [ʃ] following a lax front vowel /ɪ/ [1]. We conducted perception studies exploiting this contrast in Berlin (Germany), a city with large multi-ethnic neighborhoods. This alternation is pervasive and noticeable, it is mocked and stigmatized and there is an awareness that many young speakers (including ethnically Germans) from neighborhoods with larger migrant populations like Kreuzberg (KB) substitute /ç/ with /ʃ/ while speakers from less stigmatized vicinities like Zehlendorf (ZD) do not.
Annals of Improbable …, 2010
Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, 2013
A recent observation of multi-cultural urban German speech as spoken in Berlin is that the diphth... more A recent observation of multi-cultural urban German speech as spoken in Berlin is that the diphthong /oy/ is realized more centralized and fronted compared to the standard variety of Berlin German. For this study, spontaneous speech data was collected through standardized interviews from 11 female speakers from different neighborhoods in Berlin. Their speech was orthographically transcribed and added to a database that allows for searching for all occurrences of the diphthong in it's naturally occurring context in unscripted speech. So far, 654 occurrences of these vowels have been analyzed. Measurements of the first and second formants were taken at five equally distanced points throughout the diphthong. Linear mixed effects models were run with different points across the F2-formant as the dependent variable in the two varieties of German. The second formant serves as an estimate of the degree of fronting in the two varieties of German. Results indicate that the nucleus of the /oy/ is realized more centralized in Hood German compared to a standard variety of Berlin German when the speaker associates with the community that is highly associated with this vernacular. Speakers use the centralization of /oy/ as a linguistic marker of their local urban identity.
neon.niederlandistik.fu-berlin.de
… the regular and the particular in …, 2010
It is assumed that the rate at which speakers articulate is constrained by physiological factors ... more It is assumed that the rate at which speakers articulate is constrained by physiological factors such as the mass of an articulator and the distance an articulator must travel, by linguistic factors such as the utterance's phonetic complexity and by cognitive factors. We carried out an articulatory study using Electromagnetic Articulography (EMA) with a simultaneous acoustic recording of a single speaker who has practiced various tongue twisters for more than 40 years. Acoustic results indicate that our speaker can achieve up to 10 syllables per second in some tongue twisters. Comparing the articulatory results in normal versus fast speech it turned out that our subject either reduces movement amplitudes or uses a combination of reduction in movement amplitude and peak velocity, depending on the articulator involved and the particular sound. Although in fast speech movement amplitudes are generally reduced, they are still relatively large. Thus, we conclude that maintaining large movement amplitudes may be one strategy to avoid speech errors or articulatory reorganization, both of which are common in fast speech. 1
The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between speaking fundament... more The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between speaking fundamental frequency and acoustic vowel space size, thus testing a possible perceptual source of sex-specific differences in acoustic vowel space size based on the greater inter-harmonic spacing and a poorer definition of the spectral envelope of higher pitched voices. Average fundamental frequencies and acoustic vowel spaces of 56 female German speakers are analyzed. Several parameters are used to quantify the size and shape of the vowel space defined by /iː ε aː ɔ uː/ such as the area of the polygon spanned by the five vowels, the absolute difference in F1 or F2 between /iː/ and /uː/ or /aː/, and the Euclidian distance between /iː/ and /aː/. In addition, the potential impact of nasality on the vowel space size is examined. Results reveal no significant correlation between fundamental frequency and vowel space size suggesting other factors must be responsible for the larger female acoustic vowel space.
The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the amount of inter-speaker variability in th... more The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the amount of inter-speaker variability in the articulation of monozygotic twin pairs (MZ), dizygotic twin pairs (DZ), and pairs of unrelated twins with the goal of examining in greater depth the influence of physiology on articulation. Physiological parameters are assumed to be very similar in MZ twin pairs in contrast to DZ twin pairs or unrelated speakers, and it is hypothesized that the speaker specific shape of articulatory looping trajectories of the tongue is at least partly dependent on biomechanical properties and the speaker's individual physiology. By means of electromagnetic articulography (EMA), inter-speaker variability in the looping trajectories of the tongue back during /VCV/ sequences is analyzed. Results reveal similar looping patterns within MZ twin pairs but in DZ pairs differences in the shape of the loop, the direction of the upward and downward movement, and the amount of horizontal sliding movement at the palate are found.
This study examines articulatory and acoustic inter-speaker variability in the production of the ... more This study examines articulatory and acoustic inter-speaker variability in the production of the German vowels /i/, /u/ and /a/. Our subjects are 3 monozygotic twin pairs (2 female and 1 male pair) and 2 dizygotic female twin pairs. All of them were born, raised and are still living in Berlin and see their twin brother or sister regularly. We assume that monozygotic twins that are genetically identical and share the same physiology should be more similar in their articulation than dizygotic twins but that the shared time and social environment of twins, regardless of their genetic similarity, also plays a crucial role in the acoustic similarity of twins. Articulatory measurements were made with EMA (Electromagnetic Articulography) and the target positions of the produced vowels were analyzed. Additionally, the formants F1-F4 of each vowel were measured and compared within the twin pairs. Our data seems to point out the importance of a shared environment and the strong influence of learning over the anatomical identity of the monozygotic twins regarding the production of vowels. But, additional results suggest (1) the impact of physiology on the production of a vowel following a velar consonant and (2) the interaction of physiology and stress in inter-speaker variability.
We conducted an AX-discrimination task to test for differences in perceived auditory similarity i... more We conducted an AX-discrimination task to test for differences in perceived auditory similarity in monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs and unrelated speakers. In addition, we performed acoustic analyses to find acoustic correlates that explain the differences in perceived similarity.
for speech perception the articulatory targets/movements and neural commands for production of sp... more for speech perception the articulatory targets/movements and neural commands for production of speech are seen to be crucial Preliminary results:
In Berlin German, the identification of /ç/ as in Fichte 'spruce' versus the alveopalatal fricati... more In Berlin German, the identification of /ç/ as in Fichte 'spruce' versus the alveopalatal fricative /ʃ/ in fischte (3. sg. past tense) 'to fish' is influenced by what neighborhood in Berlin hearers believe a speaker comes from (KB: Kreuzberg: multi-ethnic, multi-cultural or ZD: Zehlendorf: mono-ethnic, upscale, affluent area) and the inferences made as to how the speaker is likely to realize these two variants. Our results indicate that listeners adjust their interpretation of synthesized acoustic continua in accordance with their expectation, strongly suggesting that both perceptual cues and inferred social factors play a role in the categorization of speech stimuli. Thus, the results show that the mere suggestion of where the speaker may come from even within the confines of a city is enough to trigger such inferences.
The work presented in this dissertation set out to evaluate articulatory, acoustic and perceptual... more The work presented in this dissertation set out to evaluate articulatory, acoustic and perceptual similarities and differences among monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins. In this respect, this dissertation contributes to the discussion of the impact of NATURE versus NURTURE on the production and perception of speech in general and on inter-speaker variability in particular. It is acknowledged that the sample is too small to offer a complete and generalisable account of the effect of nature/nurture on speech. Rather, it should be viewed as
The purpose of this study is to further explore the understanding of speaker-specific realization... more The purpose of this study is to further explore the understanding of speaker-specific realizations of the /s/-/ʃ/ contrast in relation to individual morphological differences. In particular, we investigate the relationship between individual palate shape and the realization of the contrast in a) twins and b) a more heterogenous speaker group by means of Electromagnetic Articulography and Electropalatography. Our results are twofold: first, similar palate morphologies such as in identical twins yield in similar articulatory realizations of this phoneme contrast regarding vertical and horizontal distance of the target tongue tip positions. Second, palatal height, anterior width of the palate, and palatal doming in the region where the contrast is produced influence its realization. Hence, a speaker's articulatory realization of the sibilant contrast is not only influenced by speaker-specific auditory and somatosensory acuity but also by individual morphological constraints of the vocal tract.
German speakers receive different ratings in their perceived vocal attractiveness and personality... more German speakers receive different ratings in their perceived vocal attractiveness and personality characteristics. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the perceived personality attributions of 32 German listeners and find acoustic cues that correlate to these attributions. The attributed opposition pairs on which the speakers were judged were reduced by a cluster analysis to two factors: dominance (e.g. "confident", "competent") and benevolence (e.g. "sensitive", "helpful"). The acoustic investigation of the voices of 4 male speakers revealed the impact of several acoustic parameters on the ratings. Among others, the harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR) and breathy vocal onsets were most important for high ratings on benevolence. High ratings on dominance showed strong correlations to low mean F0 and strong glottal impulses.