Abstract
This paper presents preliminary results of a semi-automatic methodology to extract three parameters of a dynamic model of speech rhythm. The model attempts to analyze the production of rhythm as a system of coupled oscillators which represent syllabicity and phrase stress as levels of temporal organization. The estimated parameters are the syllabic oscillator entrainment rate (alpha), the syllabic oscillator decay rate (beta), and the coupling strength between the oscillators (w0). The methodology involves finding the <alpha, beta, w0> combination that minimizes the distance between natural duration contours and simulated contours generated using several combinations of the parameters. The distance between natural and model-generated contours was measured in two ways by comparing: (1) plain or overt syllable to syllable duration and (2) relative change along both contours.We applied this methodology to read speech produced by five speakers of the state of Ceará (CE) and eight speakers of the state of São Paulo (SP). Mean w0 and alpha values are compatible with the view that Brazilian Portuguese is a mixed-rhythm language. Results from two bayesian hierarchical regression models do not suggest a difference between SP and CE speakers, but indicate a difference between the two methods, with the relative change method generating lower alpha values and higher w0 values, and the reverse for the plain duration method.
Highlights
The goal of this study is to test a methodology we are developing to study rhythmic variability across speakers and languages based on the concepts underlying Barbosa's dynamic model of speech rhythm (BARBOSA 2006; 2007)
The main goal of the present study is to take a step forward in defining a semiautomatic methodology that will make it possible to estimate α, β and w0 given a set of audio samples, making it easier to investigate some of Barbosa’s claims about the ability of the dynamic model of speech rhythm to explain both rhythmic typology as well as claims about where particular languages lie within this typology
Out of the three parameters, is the one with the least impact on rhythmic typology, and for the sake of brevity, this analysis consisted of two response variables: α and w0; and two predictor variables: method, and dialect (CE and São Paulo (SP))
Summary
The goal of this study is to test a methodology we are developing to study rhythmic variability across speakers and languages based on the concepts underlying Barbosa's dynamic model of speech rhythm (BARBOSA 2006; 2007). In this initial exploration of this methodology, we use it to compare rhythmic variability in two Brazilian Portuguese regional varieties, the one spoken in the Northeastern state of Ceará and the one spoken in the Southeastern state of São Paulo. The phrase stress oscillator entrains the syllabic oscillator, such that its period gets progressively lengthened as it approaches the phrase stress beat location in the utterance. Points of maxima on the entrained oscillator cycle correspond to the onsets of vocalic gestures in speech
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
