Focusing on vertical larynx action dynamics

Abstract

Previous studies have shown a positive correlation between fundamental frequency and vertical larynx position. Additionally, Lee (2018) suggests the possibility that there is roughly one vertical larynx movement (VLM) per Accentual Phrase (AP) in Seoul Korean. Building on these findings, this study investigates the effect of prosodic focus on vertical larynx movements. Target sentences designed to have roughly four APs (e.g., AP[JoohyunSUBJ] AP[shabby garden field] AP[six yardsOBJ] AP[soldDECL], presented in Korean) were used to elicit a focus condition with focus on the initial word of the object phrase (e.g., six). Results from five Seoul Korean speakers indicate that quantifiable vertical larynx movements observed with real-time MRI for each sentence range from 3 to 6 movements, with 4 movements per sentence being most frequent. Sentences under focus had more instances of VLM per sentence than those without focus. Additionally, the displacement magnitudes of the vertical larynx gestures decrease over time through the sentence. Lastly, focused sentences have significantly greater VL displacement around the region of focus than the control. These observations on vertical larynx actions have implications for prosodic planning, downdrift, and pitch resetting, and future work is examining how VLMs align and correlate with Accentual Phrases and fundamental frequency. [Work supported by NIH.]