Rhythmic patterning of conversational speech

Rhythmic patterning of conversational speech in Swedish and American English

Project directors:: Eugene H. Buder, School of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, University of Memphis.; Anders Eriksson, Department of Linguistics Göteborg University.
Project title:: Rhythmic patterning of conversational speech in Swedish and American English.
Project Period:: 1996 -
Funding agency:: The project receives no external funding at present.
Project abstract:: It is clear that speech is acoustically patterned in ways that produce rhythmic features (e.g. Eriksson, 1991), though the precise physical nature and functions of rhythmic structures are not always so clear. Previous research by Buder (1986, 1991, 1996) has produced examples of rhythmic patterning in acoustic speech parameters of fundamental voice frequency and intensity (pitch and loudness) that appear to explain the timing of speech behaviors in both partners in dyadic (two-person) conversations. Buder's work indicates that statistical models based on time-series analysis are adequate for detecting such patterning. This approach suggests that there may be temporal structures in speech behavior that are independent of specific linguistic units.; We aim to investigate the rhythmic patterning of conversational speech samples in both Swedish and American English. We have begun analyses of pilot data suggesting that in conversations between same-gender strangers, the patterns of rhythmic integration, or "synchrony," are quite similar in both languages. Although this tentatively supports the hypothesis that interaction related speech rhythms are universal to both languages, more data are needed to validate this finding. Eventually we expect to discover some level at which the prosodic differences between these languages influence the interaction patterns, though it remains possible that the interaction patterns are in fact preeminent. The results of the research therefore promise to address basic issues of language and culture, but we also anticipate more immediate applications to practical issues in second-language learning and cross-linguistic communications.
Project staff:: Eugene H. Buder, School of Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology, University of Memphis.; Anders Eriksson, Department of Linguistics Göteborg University.
References:: Buder, E. H. (1986). Coherence of speech rhythms in conversations: Autocorrelation analysis of fundamental voice frequency. Toronto Semiotic Circle Monograph, (1986)2, Toronto: Toronto Semiotic Circle.; Buder, E.H. (1991). Vocal synchrony in conversations: spectral analysis of fundamental voice frequency. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Departments of Communication Arts and Communicative Disorders, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.; Buder, E. H. (1996). Dynamics of speech processes in dyadic interaction. In J. Watt & C. A. Van Lear, Jr., (Eds.), Cycles and Dynamic Patterns in Communication Processes (pp. 301-325). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Buder, E. H. & A. Eriksson. (1997). Prosodic cycles and interpersonal synchrony in American English and Swedish. pdf In Proc. EUROSPEECH '97, Vol. 1, 235-238. (EUROSPEECH '97 poster) (686k); Buder, E. H. & A. Eriksson. (1999). Time-series analysis of conversational prosody for the identification of rhythmic units. Paper to be prresented to The 14th International Congress of Phonetic Sciences, San Francisco, 1–7 August 1999. pdf; Eriksson, Anders. 1991. Aspects of Swedish Speech Rhythm. Gothenburg Monographs in Linguistics, 9. Gothenburg University: Department of Linguistics.