Speech intonation and perception: A study of frequency scales for Brazilian Portuguese.

Abstract

This work aims to verify the appropriation of the semitones scale for data analysis in studies involving intonational aspects of Brazilian Portuguese (henceforth BP), regarding mainly speakers perception and intuition at the time of production. The semitone scale was selected because it operates with frequencies ranges and with a central frequency to which the neighboring frequencies, in a given range, would be attracted covering the perception issue. The test was performed with 13 BP native speakers (seven women and six men) and consisted primarily in an exposure for a target-utterance. In next step, they were required to reproduce what they had heard: imitating just the intonation despite of the voice qualities and segments realization. The data (f0 values) obtained were plotted in mels, barks, semitones, and ERB-rates and all compared by (i) correlation (r2), (ii) variation from target-utterance values of F0, and (iii) graphics comparison. The results so far obtained and analyzed indicates that the semitones scales can be used with no loses for frequencies under 600 Hz if compared with Hz scale and better fits for heights comparison. In relation to other scales, any difference was noted in absolute values at this moment. [Work funded by CNPq, Process no. 152293/2010-8.]