Fundamental frequency and the comprehension of simple and complex sentences

Abstract

The intelligibility of sentences with monotone fundamental frequency was assessed using a sentence verification paradigm, which measured listeners' reaction time in judging whether a sentence was true or false. A zero‐phase vocoder was used to allow manipulation of fundamental frequency contours and resynthesis resulting in speech that sounded as much like natural speech as possible. Sentences were vocoded and resynthesized using either a monotone contour or the original contour. Listeners' reaction times to monotone short, simple sentences were slower by 48 ms than their reaction times to the same sentences with normal fundamental frequency contours. Reaction times to longer sentences with complex syntactic structures will also be presented. The results suggest that an adequate model of speech perception and comprehension must incorporate intonation. The contributions of segmental effects, terminal fall, stressed syllables, and declination are considered. [Work supported by NIH and the Sloan Foundation.]