Parameters of speech rate perception in German words and sentences: duration, F0 movement, and F0 level.

Abstract

Through four sets of experiments, this paper examines the contributions of duration, overall Fo level and Fo movement to the perception of speech rate in German words and sentences, as well as the influences of perceived tempo changes on segment identity. Overall duration constitutes the most important cue, and overall Fo level is stronger than Fo movement. A higher Fo level cues a faster, a lower Fo level a slower speed, in relation to some medium reference. An Fo movement below or above a preceding Fo level signals a decrease or an increase in speech rate, respectively. Gliding changes have greater cue strength than stepwise changes, and early glides in stressed-unstressed syllable sequences are stronger than later ones. Segment perception that relies on local duration ratios takes their tempo-induced changes into account: The identification functions shift to higher ratios for slower speech rates and to lower ratios for faster speech rates. These perceptual findings are closely linked with the timing and Fo control in speech production.