Abstract
The study of human vocal communication has been conducted primarily in Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic (WEIRD) societies. Recently, cross-cultural investigations in several domains of voice research have been expanding into more diverse populations. Theoretically, it is important to understand how universals and cultural variations interact in vocal production and perception, but cross-cultural voice research presents many methodological challenges. Experimental methods typically used in WEIRD societies are often not possible to implement in many populations such as rural, small-scale societies. Moreover, theoretical and methodological issues are often unnecessarily intertwined. Here, I focus on three areas of cross-cultural voice modulation research: (i) vocal signalling of formidability and dominance, (ii) vocal emotions, and (iii) production and perception of infant-directed speech. Research in these specific areas illustrates challenges that apply more generally across the human behavioural sciences but also reveals promise as we develop our understanding of the evolution of human communication.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Voice modulation: from origin and mechanism to social impact (Part II)’.
Highlights
Research on vocal communication is burgeoning, but few areas have grown as dramatically as cross-cultural investigations
Voice researchers are beginning to extend their empirical reach into small-scale societies, and access populations that can potentially enhance our understanding of the complex relationship between universal patterns and cultural variations in vocal production and perception
In the three general areas of work 2 described here, I will point to two relevant and overlapping issues for voice researchers: (i) conceptualizing the theoretical problems associated with measuring universals and cultural variation, and (ii) study design, including task demands and response variables
Summary
Research on vocal communication is burgeoning, but few areas have grown as dramatically as cross-cultural investigations. There are flourishing cross-cultural research programmes examining how people (i) modulate their voices in ways that signal dominance and formidability, (ii) generate emotional vocal signals for the navigation of social interactions, and (iii) communicate vocally with preverbal infants and young language learners. Each of these domains of vocal signalling has deep phylogenetic roots, but is critically influenced by volitional voice modulation, a human capacity [1,2]. Cross-cultural studies are illuminating the species-specific mechanisms and developmental trajectories of human vocal behaviour, helping us better understand their evolutionary histories and communicative functions
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