Brazilian Portuguese Speakers Research Articles

Statistical Insignificance is not wholesale transfer in L3 Acquisition: an approximate replication of Rothman (2011)

Abstract This study was an approximate replication of Rothman (2011),examining the determiner phrase syntax of a large sample (n = 211) of L3 learners of Portuguese who spoke English and Spanish. Rothman (2011) investigated whether L3 Italian or Brazilian Portuguese speakers are differently impacted by another known Romance Language, if it was their L1 or L2. The original study concluded that groups did not perform differently on experimental tasks on the basis of a null effect, and that the typological similarity of Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian predicts transfer in the initial stages of L3 acquisition. The present replication recreated all materials, which were unavailable, and examined the same population and questions. However, rather than examining L3 Italian and L3 Brazilian Portuguese, the present work maintained a constant L3 Portuguese. Learners were divided into two groups in a mirror-image design (n = 96 L1 English-L2 Spanish, n = 115 L1 Spanish-L2 English), and data were collected online. Like the original study, there was no main effect of group in any of the two-way analyses of variance. However, results show that it should not be assumed that experimental groups behave equivalently based on a null effect: Of the four total post hoc tests of equivalence, only two were significant when the equivalence bounds were set at a small effect size (d = $ \pm $ .4). Ultimately, it is argued that determining the smallest effect size of interest and subsequent equivalence testing are necessary to answer key questions in the field of L3 acquisition.

Accuracy and Cut-Off Values of Cepstral Measures in the Clinical Evaluation of Brazilian Portuguese Speakers

OBJECTIVETo identify the accuracy and cut-off values of the Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP) and Cepstral Peak Prominence-Smoothed (CPPS) obtained from different speech tasks, to identify dysphonic voices in Brazilian Portuguese speakers, and to verify the correlation between these measures and the overall severity of dysphonia (OS). METHODIn a study with 376 subjects—277 with dysphonia and 99 controls—we recorded four speech tasks and assessed OS with a visual analog scale (VAS). We extracted CPP and CPPS from these recordings and analyzed them using receive operating characteristic (ROC) curves to determine cut-off values and other performance metrics (area under curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratios). RESULTSCPP values below 28.15 dB (sustained vowel [Ɛ]), 28.77 dB (sustained vowel [a]), 28.58 dB (all CAPE-V sentences), and CPPS values below 16.42 dB (sustained vowel [Ɛ]), 17.02 dB (sustained vowel [a]), and 11.30 dB (all CAPE-V sentences) are indicative of the presence of dysphonia. CPPVE, CPPVA, CPPCAPE-V, CPPVS, CPPSVE, CPPSVA, CPPSCount, CPPSCAPE-V e CPPSVS, and CPPSVS can explain the variability of OS from 19% to 57.9%. CONCLUSIONThe cut-off values for CPPVE, CPPVA, CPPCAPE-V, CPPSVE, CPPSCAPE-V, and CPPSVA obtained from Praat software can be used as a reference for the clinical voice assessment of Brazilian Portuguese speakers in the respective speech tasks. Analysis of the correlation coefficients of the cepstral measures investigated provided us with a predictive model of OS perception based on each measure/speech task.

Visual channel facilitates the comprehension of the intonation of Brazilian Portuguese wh-questions and wh-exclamations: evidence from congruent and incongruent stimuli

Abstract This paper presents an audiovisual perceptual analysis of the wh-question and wh-exclamation intonation in Brazilian Portuguese using auditory–visual congruent and incongruent stimuli, to investigate the relative importance of each modality in signaling pragmatic meanings. Ten Brazilian Portuguese speakers (five female) were filmed while producing both speech acts 10 times. Next, artificial stimuli were created: audio and visual cues were either matched (audio and video from the same speech act) or mismatched (audio and video from the different speech acts), resulting in 10 congruent and 10 incongruent stimuli of the wh-questions and the wh-exclamations. The perceptual experiment was taken by 36 Brazilians who identified the stimulus as a question or an exclamation. Results from the logistic regression showed that the factor ‘congruence’ was significant and had a significant interaction with ‘speakers’, which means that the congruent stimuli increased the comprehension of the Brazilian Portuguese wh-questions and wh-exclamations. In contrast, the incongruent stimuli tended to lower listeners’ identification, but to a degree depending on individual speakers’ strategies. Although variation in the accuracy of expressing both speech acts was also found across speakers, this study corroborates that the visual channel impacts the perceptual identification of the pragmatic intonation function of distinguishing sentence mode.

(281) Linguistic and Cultural Validation of the Satisfaction Survey for Inflatable Penile Implant (SSIPI) for Brazilian Portuguese and Tri-Continental Spanish Speakers

Abstract Introduction The Satisfaction Survey for Inflatable Penile Implants (SSIPI) has been validated in English. No validated Portuguese and Spanish versions currently exist. Objective We aimed to linguistically validate SSIPI in Portuguese and Spanish to evaluate satisfaction outcomes with a validated instrument. Methods Our methodology adhered to best practices established by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and involved: forward translation of the 16-item SSIPI into Portuguese and Spanish by 2 independent IPP surgeons, reconciliation, back translation into English by 2 different independent bilingual IPP surgeons, and comparison to the original SSIPI for conceptual equivalence. The translated SSIPI versions underwent in-parallel cognitive debriefing (CD) at the US, Colombia, Spain, and Brazil centers. All interviews were recorded in person or via secure video conference to determine if misunderstandings or modifications were needed. Results 12 and 17 native Portuguese and Spanish speakers, respectively, with IPPs, participated in the CD process for their native language SSIPI. Interviews lasted approximately 1 hour each. The Portuguese SSIPI validation was conducted at 2 different centers in Brazil, resulting in 83% of the patients reporting that the survey was easy to answer. Of 16 questions, only 3 (Q7, Q11, and Q16) raised concerns for 6 patients. 5 patients had issues with the concept of the word “naturalness” and “spontaneity” from Q7 and Q16. One patient struggled with interpreting the word “conceal” in Q11. Regarding the duration taken to answer, 10/12 patients said it was acceptable. The Spanish SSIPI was tested at 4 US, Colombia, and Spain academic centers. 63% indicated the survey was easy to answer. In most cases, replacing a single word in the item with another was proposed. 53% had difficulties comprehending the answer choice options with Q3; however, all participants perceived the time required to complete the SSIPI as reasonable. Conclusions While the Portuguese SSIPI has been demonstrated to be easier to read and interpret than the Spanish SSIPI, with minor changes to wording/phrasing, both versions have the potential to improve IPP outcomes literature globally. Concerning questions will be modified before conducting the final validation steps. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Roman.

Assessment protocol for acquired apraxia of speech.

To develop an assessment protocol for speech motor planning with phonologically balanced stimuli for Brazilian Portuguese, including all necessary variables for this diagnosis. Three stages were carried out: In the first, word lists were built with the main criterion being syllabic and accentual patterns. From the survey conducted in Stage 1, the words that composed the first version of the protocol lists in Stage 2 were selected, and grouped into two fundamental tasks for diagnosing acquired apraxia of speech (AOS): repetition and Reading Aloud (RA). In Stage 3, the occurrence of words was investigated using the Brazilian Corpus (PUC-SP) - Linguateca database, and a statistical analysis was performed to verify if the repetition and RA lists were balanced in terms of the occurrences. Thus, the lists were distributed in quartiles and submitted to both descriptive and bivariate analyses. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was adopted. After completion of all stages, the words that composed the lists of the repetition and RA tasks were obtained. Finally, other tasks considered essential for the assessment of AOS, such as diadochokinetic rates and the board for spontaneous oral emission, were then added to the protocol. The developed protocol contains the tasks considered standard for the assessment of AOS according to the international literature, which makes this instrument important for diagnosing this disorder in speakers of Brazilian Portuguese.

Protocolo de avaliação para apraxia de fala adquirida

ABSTRACT Purpose To develop an assessment protocol for speech motor planning with phonologically balanced stimuli for Brazilian Portuguese, including all necessary variables for this diagnosis. Methods Three stages were carried out: In the first, word lists were built with the main criterion being syllabic and accentual patterns. From the survey conducted in Stage 1, the words that composed the first version of the protocol lists in Stage 2 were selected, and grouped into two fundamental tasks for diagnosing acquired apraxia of speech (AOS): repetition and Reading Aloud (RA). In Stage 3, the occurrence of words was investigated using the Brazilian Corpus (PUC-SP) - Linguateca database, and a statistical analysis was performed to verify if the repetition and RA lists were balanced in terms of the occurrences. Thus, the lists were distributed in quartiles and submitted to both descriptive and bivariate analyses. A significance level of 5% (p&lt;0.05) was adopted. Results After completion of all stages, the words that composed the lists of the repetition and RA tasks were obtained. Finally, other tasks considered essential for the assessment of AOS, such as diadochokinetic rates and the board for spontaneous oral emission, were then added to the protocol. Conclusion The developed protocol contains the tasks considered standard for the assessment of AOS according to the international literature, which makes this instrument important for diagnosing this disorder in speakers of Brazilian Portuguese.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Iranian Voice Quality of Life Profile into Brazilian Portuguese.

To cross-culturally adapt the Voice Quality of Life Profile (IVQLP) into Brazilian Portuguese (BP). The cross-cultural adaptation process was performed in five stages: translation of the IVQLP into BP by three native BP experts fluent in American English; preparation of a consensus version; back-translation by a native American English expert fluent in BP; analysis by a committee of five experts and preparation of the final version of the instrument in BP, which was named IVQLP-Br; and pre-testing. The IVQLP-Br aims to assess the impacts of the voice more comprehensively, encompassing various areas of an individual's life. It has 43 items and a five-level response key. For the pre-test, the alternative "not applicable" was added as a response option. Thirty-six adults with self-reported risk of dysphonia participated in the pre-test. In the translation stage, ten items were modified, and during the back-translation, 15 items required adjustments. No questions required reformulation after the application of the IVQLP-Br in the target population, because the option "not applicable" appeared in 12 responses without statistical significance. The version of the IVQLP translated into BP, named the IVQLP-Br, exhibited cross-cultural equivalence and was administrable for a more detailed analysis of the impact of the voice in different domains of an individual's life. After validation, the IVQLP-Br will be able to contribute both to clinical practice and to research with BP speakers.

Multiparametric Analysis of Speaking Fundamental Frequency in Genetically Related Speakers Using Different Speech Materials: Some Forensic Implications.

To assess the speaker-discriminatory potential of a set of fundamental frequency estimates in intraidentical twin pair comparisons and cross-pair comparisons (i.e., among all speakers). A total of 20 Brazilian Portuguese speakers of the same dialect, namely 10 male identical twin pairs aged between 19 and 35, were recruited. The participants were recorded directly through professional microphones while taking part in a spontaneous dialogue over mobile phones. Acoustic measurements were performed in connected speech samples, and in lengthened vowels, at least 160ms long produced during spontaneous speech. f0 baseline, central tendency, and extreme values were found mostly discriminatory in intra-twin pair and cross-pair comparisons. These were also the estimates displaying the largest effect sizes. Overall, only three identical twins were found statistically different regarding their f0 patterns in connected speech, but not for lengthened vowel-based f0 metrics. Estimates of f0 variation and modulation were found the least discriminatory across speakers, which may signal the control of speaking style and dialect on dynamic patterns of f0. Concerning system performance, the base value of f0 (f0 baseline) was found the most reliable metric, displaying the lowest equal error rate (EER). The outcomes suggest that, although identical twins were very closely related regarding their f0 patterns, some pairs could still be differentiated acoustically, only in connected speech. Such findings reinforce the relevance of analyzing long-term f0 metrics for speaker comparison purposes, with particular consideration to f0 baseline. Furthermore, f0 differences across subjects were suggested as more expressive in connected speech than in lengthened vowels.

Voice disguise and foreign accent: Prosodic aspects of English produced by Bra-zilian Portuguese speakers

This study aims to explore how much a speaker of English as a foreign language can mask one’s accent by performing voice disguise toward a native-like accent, and what implications it might bring forward. For the Methods, we conducted three experiments, (a) both the native and the foreign groups produced authentic voices, (b) the native group performed authentic voice and the foreign group performed disguised voice, and (c) a group of native listeners of English rated the degree of foreign accent from experiments a and b. The results showed evidence of correlation between the ratings and authentic voices. Nevertheless, they remained somewhat inconclusive for the disguised voice. It may be concluded that the more the Brazilian speaker approaches the L1-English target accent when voice disguising, the harder it is for the listener to recognize his/her L2-English accent.

Comprehension of clitic pronouns by children with cochlear implants: the role of sentence stress

Objectives This study investigates the role of sentence stress on the comprehension of sentences with clitic pronouns (unstressed morphemes and a typical feature of Romance languages) by children with cochlear implants (CIs). Methods Thirteen children (seven girls) with CIs and 15 children (seven girls) with NH between eight and 12 years who are monolingual speakers of Brazilian Portuguese participated on a computerized sentence comprehension task that involved manipulation of stress placement of possible antecedent words to clitic pronouns. Results Children with CIs were significantly less accurate than children with NH in comprehending sentences with clitics, regardless of sentence stress. For children with NH, stress on the correct antecedent significantly increased sentence comprehension accuracy. For children with CI, there was no significant effect of sentence stress on selecting the correct antecedent for clitic pronouns. Discussion Comprehension of sentences with clitic pronouns is challenging for children with CIs and this challenge holds cross-linguistically. Furthermore, children with CIs do not use prosodic information to support comprehension of sentences with clitics similarly to NH children. Conclusion Language-specific syntactic, morphosyntactic, and prosodic contrasts affecting sentence comprehension need to be assessed in children with CIs to plan an effective intervention.

Word-level reading skills of Brazilian children with developmental language disorder

ABSTRACT Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) show a wide range of impairments, including poor pre-reading skills and decoding difficulties due to phonological deficits and such difficulties have significant repercussions on the acquisition of written language. However, evidence about reading processes and development is mainly available for English-speaking children with DLD, limiting our understanding of this process in a cross-linguistic manner. The orthographic characteristics of languages significantly influence the learning process of written code. Unlike English, Brazilian Portuguese has a transparent decoding system and its orthography presents a set of consistent, univocal grapheme-phoneme relations. The present study investigated whether the challenges reported in decoding for children with DLD in opaque languages hold for children with DLD who are speakers of Brazilian Portuguese and whether the length and type of stimuli influence the decoding skills of children with DLD differently than when compared to children with typical language development (TLD). Sixteen children with DLD between seven and ten years of age who are monolingual speakers of Brazilian Portuguese and 64 controls with TLD matched by gender, age, and socioeconomic status, with the children with DLD in a 4:1 ratio; participated in the study. All children performed a computerized task where they were asked to decode a linguistically balanced list of words and nonwords designed according to Brazilian Portuguese decoding rules. The present study provides substantial evidence that children with DLD who are speakers of Brazilian Portuguese have deficits in the acquisition of decoding and that the decoding profile of children with DLD is subject to multiple influences, not only with relation to the length and type of stimuli but also characteristics of the languages these children are being literate in, highlighting the multifactorial nature involved in the development of decoding.

Grammatical impairment in schizophrenia: An exploratory study of the pronominal and sentential domains.

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe mental disorder associated with a variety of linguistic deficits, and recently it has been suggested that these deficits are caused by an underlying impairment in the ability to build complex syntactic structures and complex semantic relations. Aiming at contributing to determining the specific linguistic profile of SZ, we investigated the usage of pronominal subjects and sentence types in two corpora of oral dream and waking reports produced by speakers with SZ and participants without SZ (NSZ), both native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese. Narratives of 40 adult participants (20 SZ, and 20 NSZ-sample 1), and narratives of 31 teenage participants (11 SZ undergoing first psychotic episode, and 20 NSZ-sample 2) were annotated and statistically analyzed. Overall, narratives of speakers with SZ presented significantly higher rates of matrix sentences, null pronouns-particularly null 3Person referential pronouns-and lower rates of non-anomalous truncated sentences. The high rate of matrix sentences correlated significantly with the total PANSS scores, suggesting an association between the overuse of simple sentences and SZ symptoms in general. In contrast, the high rate of null pronouns correlated significantly with positive PANSS scores, suggesting an association between the overuse of null pronominal forms and the positive symptoms of SZ. Finally, a cross-group analysis between samples 1 and 2 indicated a higher degree of grammatical impairment in speakers with multiple psychotic episodes. Altogether, the results strengthen the notion that deficits at the pronominal and sentential levels constitute a cross-cultural linguistic marker of SZ.

15-item Roland-Morris disability questionnaire for general pain (RMDQ-g): Structural validity and criterion validity on Brazilian patients with chronic pain

BackgroundRoland-Morris Disability Questionnaire for general pain (RMDQ-g) is an instrument adapted to assess disability in patients with pain in any region of the body. ObjectiveTo perform the structural and criterion validity of the RMDQ-g in Brazilian patients with chronic pain. DesignA cross-sectional study. MethodsWe included native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, of both sexes, aged ≥18 years, with pain for at least 3 months in any region of the body. Participants eligible for the study responded to an online form containing personal and clinical data, and assessment instruments. We used the confirmatory factor analysis and considered the following fit indices: chi-square/degree of freedom (DF), comparative fit index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis index (TLI), root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). In the comparison between models, we considered the structure with the lowest values of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and sample-size adjusted Bayesian information criterion (SABIC). We assessed criterion validity via Spearman's correlation coefficient (rho) to correlate the long and short versions. ResultsThe study consisted of 297 participants with chronic pain. The main sites of pain were the lumbar region (40.7%), thoracic (21.5%), and neck (19.5%). Mean pain intensity was greater than 5 points. The 24-item long version and the 15-item short version had adequate fit indices (chi-square/DF ≤ 1.77, CFI ≥0.97, TLI ≥0.96, and RMSEA ≤0.05). However, when comparing structures, the short version was the most appropriate because it had the lowest values of AIC (2562.05) and SABIC (2577.72). Criterion validity was acceptable (rho = 0.94) and internal consistency as well (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87). ConclusionThe structural validity and criterion validity of the RMDQ-g with one domain and 15 items is the most appropriate version and should be considered in the clinical environment and in research for measuring disability in patients with chronic pain in any region of the body.

The Maze Task Mobile: Using a Psycholinguistic Experimental Technique as a Pedagogical Tool for Language Learning

This study presents a mobile application of the maze task as a complementary activity for second language learning. The application facilitates conducting linguistic training sessions with the maze task for both pedagogical and experimental purposes. We designed the Maze Task Mobile, used it in English classes with native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, and analyzed student perceptions through an attitude survey. Besides presenting the application in detail, we discuss the results from the survey and from participants’ accuracy in the task highlighting the benefits of this first mobile version of the maze task as well as improvements needed for future development.

A European and Brazilian cross-national investigation into the Portuguese translation of soundscape perceptual attributes within the SATP project

This paper presents a cross-national investigation into the soundscape perceptual attributes translation from English into European and Brazilian Portuguese. It is a study within the scope of a larger project – the Soundscape Attributes Translation Project (SATP) – that involves the translation of the same eight Perceived Affective Qualities (PAQs) into different languages through standard procedures. The structure of the paper reflects two separate moments of data collection and analysis. In the first part, the work done outlines the translation process and the resulting Portuguese-language expressions for the eight PAQs. The translation used a mixed-method approach that involved expert panels and online questionnaires. The second part of the paper outlines the impact of cultural and linguistic factors on soundscape perception and evaluation. This assessment analyzed how Portuguese speakers perceive the eight PAQs of the SATP project and compared it with the results of the English speakers. Additionally, investigations occurred on the differences between the perception of European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese speakers. The study found differences in how individuals from Portuguese-speaking countries describe sounds compared to the original English circumplex soundscape model. The Vibrant, Monotonous, Annoying, and Chaotic PAQs did not correlate as in the original English model, indicating the need for further investigation. However, the Pleasant and Calm PAQs had no issues in all analyses and shall remain with their initial translations. These findings have important implications for soundscape developments related to standardization tools, research methods, and test design in Portuguese-speaking contexts, as well as contributions to the growing body of knowledge on the role of culture and language in soundscape perception and evaluation.

Brazilian Portuguese-Russian (BraPoRus) corpus: automatic transcription and acoustic quality of elderly speech during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract This article presents the Brazilian Portuguese-Russian (BraPoRus) corpus, whose goal is to collect, analyze, and preserve for posterity the spoken heritage Russian still used today in Brazil by approximately 1,500 elderly bilingual heritage Russian–Brazilian Portuguese speakers. Their unique 100-year-old variety of moribund Russian is disappearing because it has not been passed to their descendants born in Brazil. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we remotely collected 170 h of speech samples in heritage Russian from 26 participants (M age = 75.7 years) in naturalistic settings using Zoom or a phone call. To estimate the quality of collected data, we focus on two methodological challenges, automatic transcription and acoustic quality of remote recordings. First, we find that among commercially available transcription programs, Sonix far outperforms Google Transcribe and Vocalmatic on the measure of word error rate (WER). Second, we also establish that the acoustic quality of the remote recordings was adequate for intonational and speech rate analysis. Moreover, this remote method of collecting and analyzing speech samples works successfully with elderly bilingual participants who speak a heritage language different from their dominant societal language, and it can become a new norm when face-to-face communication with elderly participants is not possible.

Differences between stereotypical gender and definitional gender in pronominal antecedent retrieval in Brazilian Portuguese

Together with Alves (2019), this paper is part of a research work dedicated to investigating the role of gender cues in pronominal antecedent retrieval in Brazilian Portuguese. The main aim is to determine whether Principle B structural constraints work as an initial filter in pronominal antecedent retrieval in Brazilian Portuguese, or whether gender cues play a major role at early processing phases since this language has visible redundant morphological markings. It is also examined whether antecedent candidates carrying different gender cues have different weights in memory. In the present work, a comparison between antecedent candidates carrying stereotypical gender and definitional gender was provided. The results of two eye-tracking experiments conducted with native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese showed that gender morphological cues play a role at the very beginning of pronoun resolution processing, and only at a later processing phase, structural constraints of Principle B seemed to help the parser to select the correct antecedent. Like the previous work, the results indicated Principle B structural constraints do not work as an initial filter blocking structurally unacceptable candidates in Brazilian Portuguese; on the contrary, all candidates seemed to be taken into account despite of violating Principle B structural constraints. Similarly to the previous work, masculine antecedent candidates were preferable to be retrieved by memory in comparison to feminine candidates. Moreover, the results indicated that candidates with definitional gender rather than stereotypical gender are preferable to be retrieved by memory since the former is lexically specified, while the latter relies on probabilities based on world knowledge inferences.

On the speaker discriminatory power asymmetry regarding acoustic-phonetic parameters and the impact of speaking style.

This study aimed to assess what we refer to as the speaker discriminatory power asymmetry and its forensic implications in comparisons performed in different speaking styles: spontaneous dialogues vs. interviews. We also addressed the impact of data sampling on the speaker's discriminatory performance concerning different acoustic-phonetic estimates. The participants were 20 male speakers, Brazilian Portuguese speakers from the same dialectal area. The speech material consisted of spontaneous telephone conversations between familiar individuals, and interviews conducted between each individual participant and the researcher. Nine acoustic-phonetic parameters were chosen for the comparisons, spanning from temporal and melodic to spectral acoustic-phonetic estimates. Ultimately, an analysis based on the combination of different parameters was also conducted. Two speaker discriminatory metrics were examined: Cost Log-likelihood-ratio (Cllr) and Equal Error Rate (EER) values. A general speaker discriminatory trend was suggested when assessing the parameters individually. Parameters pertaining to the temporal acoustic-phonetic class depicted the weakest performance in terms of speaker contrasting power as evidenced by the relatively higher Cllr and EER values. Moreover, from the set of acoustic parameters assessed, spectral parameters, mainly high formant frequencies, i.e., F3 and F4, were the best performing in terms of speaker discrimination, depicting the lowest EER and Cllr scores. The results appear to suggest a speaker discriminatory power asymmetry concerning parameters from different acoustic-phonetic classes, in which temporal parameters tended to present a lower discriminatory power. The speaking style mismatch also seemed to considerably impact the speaker comparison task, by undermining the overall discriminatory performance. A statistical model based on the combination of different acoustic-phonetic estimates was found to perform best in this case. Finally, data sampling has proven to be of crucial relevance for the reliability of discriminatory power assessment.

Phonological influence in bilectal speakers of Brazilian and European Portuguese

Aims and objectives:This article investigates naturalistic acquisition of a second dialect (D2), comparing the global accent of speakers of Brazilian Portuguese (BP) exposed to European Portuguese (EP), either as children or as adults (early vs late bilectals). The focus is on the predicted advantage of an early age of onset of the D2, as well as possible crosslinguistic influence from the D2 onto the first dialect (D1).Design and methodology:The study is an Accent Rating Task, where 50 raters judged the global accent of 30 BP speakers living in Portugal (15 early + 15 late bilectals), who were recorded in both BP and EP modes. Using a 6-point Likert-type scale, the raters judged whether the speakers sounded Brazilian or Portuguese and also indicated how certain they were about their judgment.Data and analysis:The data consisted of two 10-second audio snippets from each speaker, one in BP and the other in EP mode (altogether 60 items). In addition, there were 10 control items produced by native BP and EP speakers. Several mixed-effects models compared the target groups to each other and to the monolectal controls.Findings and conclusions:Both the early and late bilectals were rated as Brazilian in BP mode, but the degree of rater certainty was significantly lower for early than for late bilectals, which was again lower than for BP monolectals. In EP mode, early bilectals were perceived as Portuguese (though the raters were less certain than when rating EP monolectals), while late bilectals were judged as Brazilian.Originality:The study adds to the novel but increasing body of research on speakers of two closely related varieties.Significance and implications:This research illustrates that bilectalism displays a number of similarities with bilingualism, specifically that there may be significant effects of age of onset of the D2.

The Dance of Pauses in Poetry Declamation

In poetry declamation, the appropriate use of prosody to cause pleasure is essential. Among the prosodic parameters, pause is one of the most effective to engage the listeners and provide them with a pleasant experience. The declamation of three poems in two varieties of Portuguese by ten Brazilian Portuguese (BP) speakers and ten European Portuguese (EP) speakers, balanced for gender, was used as a corpus for evaluating the degree of pleasantness by listeners from the same language variety. The distributions of pause duration and inter-pause interval (IPI) both varied greatly across the subjects, being the main source of variability and strongly right-tailed. The evaluation of the degree of pleasantness revealed that pause duration predicts degree of pleasantness in EP, whereas IPI predicts degree of pleasantness in BP. Reciters perform a kind of complex “dance”, where sonority between pauses is favored in BP and pause duration in EP.