Abstract
Although the effects of alcohol on the temporal parameters of speech have been approached in various studies in numerous languages, there is no such study analyzing the acoustic manifestations of said effects in the Spanish language. The aim of this preliminary study is to observe in which ways certain strategies, such as silent pauses, filled pauses, and syllable lengthening —both in frequency and duration—, as well as speaking and articulatory rates are affected by the alcoholization in utterances realized by Spanish speakers. Ten female subjects participated in this experiment, each performing four tasks—two in order to obtain semi-spontaneous speech and two in order to obtain read speech—in each of the three sessions maintained. In the first session the participants were completely sober, in the second they were under a moderate influence of alcohol, and in the third session they were in a more intoxicated state than in the previous session. The results show that the quantity of speech disrupting strategies is not determinately related to the level of intoxication of the subject, whereas in contrast the duration of such strategies, as well as speaking and articulation rate constitute notable indicators of intoxication. That is to say, that alcohol, as it affects the central nervous system, produces a slowing of speech that creates a relationship with the length of pauses and slowness of speech that is directly proportional with blood alcohol content.
Highlights
An acoustic study of temporal aspects of discourse under the influence of alcohol in Spanish speakers.– the effects of alcohol on the temporal parameters of speech have been approached in various studies in numerous languages, there is no such study analyzing the acoustic manifestations of said effects in the Spanish language
The results show that the quantity of speech disrupting strategies is not determinately related to the level of intoxication of the subject, whereas in contrast the duration of such strategies, as well as speaking and articulation rate constitute notable indicators of intoxication
En el aposento había unas negras colgaduras que alejaban de nuestra vista la luna; pero el presagio del Mal, junto con el temor del recuerdo de la lúgubre muerte, no podían excluirse de las alucinaciones de mi mente
Summary
El alcohol se considera una droga que afecta al sistema nervioso central, ya que, con una determinada cantidad de alcohol en sangre, nuestro cuerpo pierde coordinación en ciertas funciones cognitivas, lo que supone un deterioro en la capacidad motora que afecta a la realización de tareas específicas: conducir un coche, caminar recto o hablar correctamente, entre otras cosas. Según el artículo 20, apartado 2: Están exentos de responsabilidad criminal: El que al tiempo de cometer la infracción penal se halle en estado de intoxicación plena por el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas, drogas tóxicas, estupefacientes, sustancias psicotrópicas u otras que produzcan efectos análogos, siempre que no haya sido buscado con el propósito de cometerla o no se hubiese previsto o debido prever su comisión, o se halle bajo la influencia de un síndrome de abstinencia, a causa de su dependencia de tales sustancias, que le impida comprender la ilicitud del hecho o actuar conforme a esa comprensión.. Se analizarán los posibles cambios bajo los efectos del alcohol en el número estrategias de la interrupción del hilo discursivo, en la duración de estas, en la velocidad de elocución y en la velocidad de articulación —tanto en el discurso espontáneo como en el leído— para comprobar si, efectivamente, el alcohol afecta a nuestras capacidades del procesamiento lingüístico y cognitivo
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