Duration Of Phrases Research Articles

A new contact zone in the Chiffchaff distribution range: Caucasian and European subspecies meet each other in the south of Russia

The study of contact zones between closely related taxa of animals sheds light on many important issues of evolution biology and taxonomy. Several such zones were described earlier within the huge distribution range of the chiffchaff species complex (Phylloscopus collybita). We have documented for the first time the existence of a new contact zone between Caucasian (Ph. c. caucasicus) and European (Ph. c. abietinus) subspecies of the Chiffchaff in Ciscaucasia (southern Russia). We predicted the occurrence of hybridization between these subspecies belonging to the same group of “greenish” chiffchaff. In eastern Ciscaucasia, a population was found in which the abietinus and caucasicus haplotypes co-occur in a significant number. A mixed pair of Chiffchaff (male caucasicus and female abietinus) was also found here. The colour of the plumage of Chiffchaffs in Ciscaucasia varies more widely compared to allopatric populations. In many specimens bearing the abietinus haplotype in Ciscaucasia, the wing formula is identical to that typical for caucasicus and differs from that typical for abietinus in allopatric populations. The tret calls typical of caucasicus are included in the song of Chiffchaffs, which carry the abietinus haplotype and do not have notes characteristic of caucasicus in their song. Chiffchaffs from Ciscaucasia occupy an intermediate position between abietinus and caucasicus in the duration of individual song phrases and syllable time-frequency characteristics. During the captures, the males of caucasicus readily reacted to the broadcast of the abietinus song, and vice versa. Thus, all the results suggest hybridization between abietinus and caucasicus in Ciscaucasia.

Effects of utterance length on word and phrase durations

This study examined the effects of utterance length on word and phrase durations to investigate how the planned length of an utterance influences the rate of speech. An experiment was conducted in which the visual stimuli cued the production of sentences with one, two, or three subject noun phrases (NPs)—e.g., “Nine green rhinos and eight red weasels and eight blue llamas live in the zoo.” In addition, a novel, delayed stimuli condition was tested in which the visual stimuli that cued non-initial NPs (“eight red weasels and eight blue llamas”) were presented after participants started production, and thus sentence length changed after utterance initiation. Word and NP durations were analyzed. NP durations were longer in sentences with more NPs, and moreover, durational increases were primarily observed in the rightmost words of the NPs. These findings are important first because they show that the previously observed effects of number of words on word durations extend to phrases, and second because they show that phrase duration effects are localized to phrase ends. When the utterance length changed after the start of production, participants lengthened the end of the initial NP and the following conjunction to plan for the newly presented NPs.

Sentential position of V[sbnd]N combination modulates the rhythmic pattern effect during Chinese sentence reading: Evidence from eye movements

Though previous research has examined how implicit meter can facilitate the processing of stress-timed languages, syllable-timed languages, such as Chinese, remain under studied. Past research has shown that among verb-noun combinations in Chinese, the processing of [2 + 2] (two disyllabic words) combination rhythmic pattern is easier than that of [2 + 1] (a disyllabic word and a monosyllabic word) pattern, though it is unclear whether this effect is modulated by the sentential position of the verb-noun combination. The present study uses eye-tracking to examine the influence of position on rhythmic pattern during silent reading. In Experiment 1, participants read sentences with [2 + 1] versus [2 + 2] VN phrases embedded in different sentential positions. Results show that the fixation duration of [2 + 1] VN phrases is significantly longer than that of [2 + 2] and that the fixation duration of VN phrases is shorter at the sentence-middle position than it is at the sentence-final position, suggesting that the rhythmic pattern effect at the sentence-middle position exhibits a reduced magnitude compared to the sentence-final position. In Experiment 2, participants read sentences with either mono- or disyllabic words after the VN phrases to further explore whether the reduction of the rhythmic pattern effect is related to the number of succeeding syllables. Results show that while the fixation duration of the [2 + 1] VN pattern is significantly longer than that of the [2 + 2] pattern, there is no significant difference between the monosyllabic versus the disyllabic conditions, nor is there a significant interaction between rhythmic pattern and syllable length post VN phrases, thus ruling out the rhythmic effect from succeeding context. Together, these patterns suggest that the reduction of the rhythmic pattern effect is caused by position rather than number of syllables after phrases.

Linguistic laws of brevity: conformity in Indri indri.

Vocal and gestural sequences of several primates have been found to conform to two general principles of information compression: the compensation between the duration of a construct and that of its components (Menzerath-Altmann law) and an inverse relationship between signal duration and its occurrence (Zipf's law of abbreviation). Even though Zipf's law of brevity has been proposed as a universal in animal communication, evidence on non-human primate vocal behavior conformity to linguistic laws is still debated, and information on strepsirrhine primates is lacking. We analyzed the vocal behavior of the unique singing lemur species (Indri indri) to assess whether the song of the species shows evidence for compression. As roars have a chaotic structure that impedes the recognition of each individual utterance, and long notes are usually given by males, we focused on the core part of the song (i.e., the descending phrases, composed of two-six units). Our results indicate that indris' songs conform to Zipf's and Menzerath-Altmann linguistic laws. Indeed, shorter phrases are more likely to be included in the song, and units' duration decrease at the increase of the size of the phrases. We also found that, despite a sexual dimorphism in the duration of both units and phrases, these laws characterize sequences of both males and females. Overall, we provide the first evidence for a trade-off between signal duration and occurrence in the vocal behavior of a strepsirrhine species, suggesting that selective pressures for vocal compression are more ancestral than previously assumed within primates.

ЯДЕРНІ КОМПОНЕНТИ В ІНТОНАЦІЙНІЙ СТРУКТУРІ ТЕКСТУ

The article presents the results of experimental study of prosody оn the Ukrainian language. The significance of intonation as an important factor influencing the audience in oral speech is described. Possibilities of functioning of intonation means in modern public performance are established. The object of analysis is the peculiarities of prosodic separation of the nuclear components of the text. The relevance of the analysis of the category selection is due to the trends in the development of experimental phonetics, in particular the shift of emphasis from the description of the intonation of the phrase to the analysis of pragmatic and textual aspects of intonation. In different languages there is a restriction on the set of intonation forms for the expression of individual intonation meanings, in particular completeness, incompleteness, emphaticity, selection. Each meaning has its own specific intonation form as opposed to the acoustic characteristics of other intonation forms. The average value of the topic of speech, the average duration of phrases, pauses, the characteristic of the frequency of the fundamental tone, the terminal tone and the intensity are defined in the scientific report. Activity of prosodic parameters in the selection of semantic center of phrase is determined. To realize its goal – to effectively impact on the audience, the speaker may be using as a maximum value (for example, the maximum frequency spacing in the nuclear syllables, a significant slowdown on the allocated segments of the phrase, average duration of the phrase) and the minimum values (the lowest level of the intonation contour, the minimum volume, duration, etc). The combination or contrast ratio of the maximum and minimum values for individual prosodic features on certain segments of verbal text contributes to the optimization of speech impact. Category intonational allocation is evident in the contrasting intonational marking of nuclear components, in their actualization and establishing relationships between them.

Assessment of voice, speech and communication changes associated with cervical spinal cord injury.

Respiratory muscle impairment following cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) may lead to reduced voice function, although the individual variation is large. Voice problems in this population may not always receive attention since individuals with CSCI face other, more acute and life-threatening issues that need/receive attention. Currently there is no consensus on the tasks suitable to identify the specific voice impairments and functional voice changes experienced by individuals with CSCI. To examine which voice/speech tasks identify the specific voice and communication changes associated with CSCI, habitual and maximum speech performance of a group with CSCI was compared with that of a healthy control group (CG), and the findings were related to respiratory function and to self-reported voice problems. Respiratory, aerodynamic, acoustic and self-reported voice data from 19 individuals (nine women and 10 men, aged 23-59 years, heights = 153-192 cm) with CSCI (levels C3-C7) were compared with data from a CG consisting of 19 carefully matched non-injured people (nine women and 10 men, aged 19-59 years, heights = 152-187 cm). Despite considerable variability of performance, highly significant differences between the group with CSCI and the CG were found in maximum phonation time, maximum duration of breath phrases, maximum sound pressure level and maximum voice area in voice-range profiles (all p = .000). Subglottal pressure was lower and phonatory stability was reduced in some of the individuals with CSCI, but differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Six of 19 had voice handicap index (VHI) scores above 20 (the cut-off for voice disorder). Individuals with a vital capacity below 50% of the expected for an equivalent reference individual performed significantly worse than participants with more normal vital capacity. Completeness and level of injury seemed to impact vocal function in some individuals. A combination of maximum performance speech tasks, respiratory tasks and self-reported information on voice problems help to identify individuals with reduced voice function following CSCI. Early identification of individuals with voice changes post-CSCI, and introducing appropriate rehabilitation strategies, may help to minimize development of maladaptive voice behaviours such as vocal strain, which can lead to further impairments and limitations to communication participation.

Characterization of vocalizations emitted in isolation by California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) pups throughout the postnatal period.

Rodent species, such as monogamous and biparental California mice, produce vocalizations as a means of communication. A temporal examination of vocalizations produced by California mice pups in isolation was performed. Pup recordings were performed for 3 min at ∼10.00 and 14.00 hrs on early postnatal days (PND) 2-4, 7, 21, and 28. Once initial recordings were finished, pups were returned to the home cage with parents and any siblings for 5 minutes to determine if active biparental responses resulted in an enhanced vocalization response when pups were isolated and retested. We also sought to determine whether potential reduction in vocalizations by older pups might be due to procedure-habituation procedure associated with less anxiety and/or possibly decreased need for parental care. Vocalizations were measured in weanling (30 days of age) "naïve" pups not previously isolated. Results show older pups took significantly longer to vocalize, indicated by increased latency before producing their initial syllable compared to earlier ages. With increasing age, pups demonstrated decreased syllable duration, reduced number and duration of phrases, and decreased number of syllables per phrase. No differences in pup vocalizations were observed before and after being placed back with parents, suggestive biparental potentiation may not exist in California mice pups. Comparison of the naïve to habituated weanling pups indicated the former group had more total calls but no other differences in vocalization parameters were detected between these 2 groups. Collectively, the findings suggest that as California mice pups mature and approach weaning they generally vocalize less in isolation. (PsycINFO Database Record

Proficiency and Linguistic Complexity Influence Speech Motor Control and Performance in Spanish Language Learners.

Second-language (L2) production requires greater cognitive resources to inhibit the native language and to retrieve less robust lexical representations. The current investigation identifies how proficiency and linguistic complexity, specifically syntactic and lexical factors, influence speech motor control and performance. Speech movements of 29 native English speakers with low or high proficiency in Spanish were recorded while producing simple and syntactically complex sentences in English and Spanish. Sentences were loaded with cognate (e.g., baby-bebé) or noncognate (e.g., dog-perro) words. Effects of proficiency, lexicality (cognate vs. noncognate), and syntactic complexity on maximum speed, range of movement, duration, and speech movement variability were examined. In general, speakers with lower L2 proficiency differed in their speech motor control and performance from speakers with higher L2 proficiency. Speakers with higher L2 proficiency generally had less speech movement variability, shorter phrase durations, greater maximum speeds, and greater ranges of movement. In addition, lexicality and syntactic complexity affected speech motor control and performance. L2 proficiency, lexicality, and syntactic complexity influence speech motor control and performance in adult L2 learners. Information about relationships between speech motor control, language proficiency, and cognitive-linguistic demands may be used to assess and treat bilingual clients and language learners.

Aviary Experience Has No Effect on Predisposition of Female Common Canaries (Serinus canaria) for Longer Sexy Phrases

ABSTRACT. We tested female Common Canaries' (Serinus canaria) preferences for “sexy phrases” of different durations. Two groups were used: (1) females raised in acoustic isolation and (2) females raised in “normal” acoustic conditions. We presented sexy phrases to both groups and counted their copulation-solicitation displays to determine their preference for the length of these stimuli. Females of both groups gave more copulation-solicitation displays in response to the longest sexy phrases presented. Our results indicate that the duration of sexy phrases is an important acoustic cue for female Common Canaries, as is total song duration in many species; this preference can be explained by theories of sexual selection. Moreover, responses of both experienced and inexperienced females are similar, which indicates that experience does not influence the females' preference for long sexy phrases. These preferences could come from predispositions, as is the case for many acoustic parameters of sexy phrases.

Prosodic planning: Local and distant effects of phrase length on pause duration.

Prosodic boundaries, as manifested in pause duration, are known to be influenced by structural properties of the phrases immediately preceding and following the boundary, such as their syntactic structure, prosodic structure, and phonological length. Little is known, however, about how phrases at a distance from a boundary, i.e., not immediately preceding or following it, may affect the durational characteristics of pausing at that boundary. An experiment is presented that investigates the effects on pause duration of prosodic phrases of different length, both immediately at the boundary and farther away from it. The goal is to (a) examine local and distant effects of prosodic phrase length on pause duration and (b) to examine incrementality in production of prosodic structure, i.e., to examine how far ahead speakers plan an utterance, and how prosodic structure affects the planning process. Subjects read 24 English sentences varying along the following parameters: (a) length in syllables (two or four syllables) of the intonational phrase immediately following a target pause and (b) length in syllables of the second, distant, intonational phrase following the pause (10 or 16 syllables long). The synchronous speech paradigm [F. Cummins (2002); E. Zvonik, F. Cummins (2002)] was used to minimize variability in production.

A Longitudinal Study of the Development of Temporal Properties of Speech Production: Data from 4 Children

A general conclusion that has emerged from the collective results of a number of studies regarding acoustic characteristics of children’s speech production development is that both the duration and temporal variability of segments, words, and phrases tend to decrease as one considers increasingly older groups of children. While this conclusion is largely appropriate when considering averages for groups of children studied across intervals of several years, the limited amount of longitudinal data that exists suggests that similar patterns may not routinely be observed in the development of individual children, especially when shorter time periods are involved. Cross-sectional, acoustic studies have provided important general descriptions of speech production development, but additional longitudinal investigations are also needed to address issues that cannot be effectively evaluated utilizing cross-sectional data. For example, it was hypothesized in the present study that decreases in duration and variability would be greater when children were younger and that progressively smaller decreases would occur as they became older. Despite general tendencies for decreases in duration and variability to occur with increased age, it was also hypothesized that not all segments and words would be affected to the same extent in this regard. To consider these and related questions, the speech of 4 children was recorded approximately every 7–10 months for periods ranging from 4 to 6 years. There was some support for the notion that duration/variability decreases were greater when children were younger, but often this was not observed. It was also found that whereas some sounds/words decreased in duration across time, others remained relatively constant. Also, within the same word, certain segments became shorter across time, while others remained unchanged. These observations provide a perspective concerning speech production development that represents an important supplement to more general conclusions that have been obtained from group-oriented studies.

A comparison of the songs of the tufted and black‐crested titmice.

The songs of the Eastern tufted titmouse (Parus B. bicolor) and the black‐crested titmouse (Parus B. sennetti) were examined as a possible systematic tool. From nine sites, 65 song types were identified, falling into four categories: one‐note phrase, two‐note long‐short phrase, two‐note short‐long phrase, and three‐note phrase songs. Canonical discriminant analysis on morphometric parameters revealed greater variation in song between sites than within sites. Black‐crested titmice typically sing at higher dominant frequencies, shorter phrase durations, a higher number of phrases per song, and a smaller repertoire than tufted titmice. Black‐crested repertoires were composed mostly of one‐note phrase songs and a few two‐note phrase songs. Tufted titmice repertoires had approximately equal proportions of one‐note and two‐note phrase songs with one three‐note phrase song at each site. Differences in body size and habitat density may explain the higher dominant frequencies found at black‐crested sites. The possible occurrence of dialects and the role of learning may account for all differences in song. However, their impacts on titmice songs must be determined before song can be used as a reliable systematic tool for the tufted titmouse complex.

Is Speech Temporally Segmented? Comparison with Temporal Segmentation in Behavior

Phrase durations in spoken German and Korean were examined for temporal segmentation like that in behavior. Lines of poetry, which may be regarded as semantic units equivalent to action units in behavior, were found to be temporally segmented but, unlike behavior, there is a significant effect of language/culture on segment length. The lengths of the pauses made between lines while reading poetry were used to define possible semantic segments in reading prose, retelling a story, free speech, and telephone messages. No temporal segmentation was found, each situation resulting in a different distribution of phrase durations. These results are discussed in terms of a possible evolution of language from the motor system.

Aerodynamic and temporal disruptions of speech in laryngeal insufficiency.

To describe the effects of laryngeal insufficiency on aerodynamic and temporal aspects of speech breathing and speech production. A survey study with statistical comparisons of patient and normal subject groups. Private and institutional practice. A convenience sample of 23 subjects with laryngeal insufficiency was compared with a volunteer sample of 20 normal-speaking subjects. Patients had frank unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis-paresis or idiopathic laryngeal insufficiency as verified by videostrobolaryngoscopy. Mean airflows, air volumes, and durations for speech inspirations, speech phrases, and non-inspiratory pauses during samples of monologue speech. In comparison with the normal group, the patient group had significantly (P < .01) higher expiratory airflows and volumes during speech and reduced speech phrase durations. In addition, breaths per minute, inspiratory minute volume, and inspiratory airflow were significantly (P < .01) higher for the patient group. An experimental measure of aerodynamic yield for speech increased the statistical separation of the patient and normal groups compared with analyses using simple expiratory airflow measures alone. Insufficient contact of the true vocal folds during speech can affect more than just voice quality. Likely effects include (1) reduced speech phrase duration, (2) increased breaths per minute, (3) increased inspiratory minute volume, and (4) increased inspiratory airflow rate.

Young cochlear implant users' response to delayed auditory feedback.

This investigation determined whether the signal provided by the Cochlear Corporation Nucleus cochlear implant can convey enough speech information to induce a response to delayed auditory feedback (DAF), and whether prelingually deafened children who received a cochlear implant relatively late in their speech development are susceptible. Ten children with the Nucleus cochlear implant spoke simple phrases, first without and then with DAF. Three prelingually deafened subjects and the only two postlingually deafened subjects demonstrated longer phrase durations when speaking with DAF than without it. Two of the prelingually deafened subjects who demonstrated a response received their cochlear implants at the age of 5 years.

Acoustic patterns of an adolescent with multiple articulation errors

This is a case study on an adolescent who demonstrated multiple articulation errors. In particular, an acoustic analysis was performed on the same features as those investigated by Kent and Forner (1980) in children with normal articulation and by Glasson (1984) in speech- and language-disordered children. The results of the analysis were compared to the data obtained by Kent and Forner and Glasson. Our subject demonstrated longer phrase durations and more variability than any of the groups with whom he was compared. In addition, he displayed an interaction between syntactic and articulatory performance.

The relationship of stuttering severity and treatment length to temporal measures of stutterers' perceptually fluent speech.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between stuttering severity and treatment length to temporal measures of stutterers' perceptually fluent speech. Seventeen adult stutterers (4 mild, 8 moderate, and 5 severe) were divided into two treatment categories. One group with limited exposure to treatment (n = 7) consisted of stutterers who had completed 0-10 hr of treatment. Another group with an extensive period of treatment (n = 10) consisted of stutterers who had completed 47-212 hr of treatment. All subjects were asked to repeat a simple phrase and read a prose passage. Spectrographic measures of the stutterers' voice onset times, vowel, consonant, and phrase durations were obtained from perceptibly fluent productions of the isolated phrase and from a phrase extracted from the oral reading. Results showed that there were no significant differences among stuttering severity groups or the two groups with different lengths of treatment. These results suggest that changes in temporal measures of stutterers' fluency might occur through the process of treatment, but those changes are not related to stuttering severity or length of treatment.

NORTH PACIFIC HUMPBACK WHALE SONGS: A COMPARISON OF SOUTHEAST ALASKAN FEEDING GROUND SONGS WITH HAWAIIAN WINTERING GROUND SONGS

AbstractHumpback whales sing long, complex songs on their wintering grounds. On 25 August 1979 and 3 September 1981, we made recordings of humpback whale songs in southeastern Alaska, showing that humpback whales also sing on the summer feeding grounds. Both these Alaskan samples are songs in that they are repeating cyclical sound patterns and follow the known structure for humpback whale song. The Alaskan songs contain all the same material sung in the same order as that heard off Mexico and Hawaii in the surrounding wintering seasons. However, song, theme and some phrase durations are abbreviated in the Alaskan songs. The recording of these two songs represents the full sample of song recorded from 155 days over five years of attempting to record humpback whale song in Alaskan waters.

Speech shadowing characteristics of stutterers under diotic and dichotic conditions

The purpose of this study was to compare adult stutterers' and adult nonstutterers' fluent speech patterns produced during one nonshadowed reading and two speech shadowing conditions. Subjects' speech error rates, shadowing strategies, and fluent speech segment durations were obtained during baseline, diotic speech shadowing, and dichotic speech shadowing conditions. Results indicated that stutterers produced fewer speech production errors (i.e., omissions, substitutions, and insertions) than nonstutterers during each shadowing condition. Stutterers also favored the use of a word-by-word speech shadowing strategy, while nonstutterers utilized both word-by-word and small phrase shadowing strategies. Finally, stutterers exhibited significantly longer vowel and phrase durations than nonstutterers during the shadowing conditions.

Rhythm in Thai Esophageal Speech

Duration measurements associated with rhythmic aspects of speech produced by one Thai esophageal speaker were compared to previously published identical measures for normal Thai speakers. Measures of central tendency and variability were taken of the duration of syllables, pauses, phrases, and interstress intervals. Despite a slower-than-normal overall speaking rate and a shorter-than-normal phrase length, the esophageal speaker was able to maintain normal relative temporal relations among syllables within phrases. Although his speech was dysrhythmic at the overall discourse level, it was rhythmic at the phrase level. Findings are interpreted to highlight the importance of differentiating features of alaryngeal speech that are common across languages from those that are specific to particular languages.