bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Analysis of Heschl’s Gyrus in Schizophrenia Patients with Auditory Hallucinations
Authors: Hubl Daniela , Dougoud-Chauvin Vérène , Zeller Markus , Federspiel Andrea , Boesch Chris , Strik Werner , Dierks Thomas , Koenig Thomas
Published: November 2009

Background/Aims: Heschl’s gyrus (HG) is functionally involved in the genesis of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). This dysfunction seems to be structurally facilitated. The aim of the study was to analyze macrostructural features of HG in a group of patients reporting AVH who demonstrated white matter diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities reported previously. Methods: 3-D anatomical MR scans were obtained (patients with and without history of AVH, controls). HG was delineated by manual segmentation. Cortical folding, absolute and relative volumes, laterality were analyzed. Results: According to the literature, in the collapsed group of patients, the normal left-greater-than-right laterality of HG was attenuated. We found a trend towards a higher number of duplicated HG in hallucinating patients. We also found a bigger volume of HG in the right hemisphere in hallucinating patients. This effect was caused by gray and white matter increase. Conclusions: This is the first study on manual volumetry of HG in a group of schizophrenia patients with AVH compared to patients without AVH. In a previous analysis of the diffusion tensor imaging data of the here presented sample, we found higher directionality of the arcuate fasciculus in patients with AVH, facilitating abnormal co-activation in the auditory cortices in the hallucinating brain. As these abnormal activations are frequent in hallucinating patients, the here described volume increase of HG might be interpreted as compensatory plastic adaptations of the contralateral regions. We suggest that this volume increase of HG is caused by the symptomatology and not by the underlying disorder of schizophrenia.
Interaction between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism and Recent Negative Stressor in Harm Avoidance
Authors: Kim Seog Ju , Cho Seong-Jin , Jang Ha Min , Shin Jonghan , Park Pil-Whan , Lee Yu Jin , Cho In Hee , Choi Jung-Eun , Lee Heon-Jeong
Published: November 2009

There have been controversial results regarding the association between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and anxiety-related traits such as harm avoidance (HA). We aimed to investigate the interaction between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and negative life stressors in HA. BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was genotyped in 391 community-dwelling Koreans (152 males, 239 females; 43.2 ± 14.1 years old). The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D) were self applied. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders and face-to-face interviews investigating negative life stressors within the last 6 months were also performed. There was no significant difference in TCI score, major depressive disorder prevalence and CES-D score among the 3 genotypes (94 Met/Met, 188 Val/Met and 109 Val/Val subjects). There was no significant difference in TCI scores between subjects with stressors and those without stressors, while more common major depressive episodes (p = 0.03) and higher CES-D scores (p < 0.001) were found in subjects with stressors. However, there was a significant interaction between the BDNF genotype and negative life stressors in HA (p = 0.02). Only subjects with the Val/Val genotype showed higher HA with recent negative stressors. Our finding suggests that BDNF Val66Met polymorphism might influence HA by interacting with recent negative stress experience.
Urinary Excretion of 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid, Serotonin and 6-Sulphatoxymelatonin in Normoserotonemic and Hyperserotonemic Autistic Individuals
Authors: Mulder Erik J. , Anderson George M. , Kemperman Ramses F.J. , Oosterloo-Duinkerken Alida , Minderaa Ruud B. , Kema Ido P.
Published: November 2009

Objective: A substantial proportion of individuals with autism have elevated levels of platelet serotonin (5-HT). We examined whether platelet hyperserotonemia is associated with increased gut 5-HT synthesis, altered 5-HT catabolism or altered melatonin production. Methods: Urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 5-HT was compared in 10 normoserotonemic and 10 hyperserotonemic age-matched autistic individuals. The relationship of urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SM) excretion to platelet 5-HT, and to urinary 5-HT and 5-HIAA excretion, was also examined. Results: In the hyperserotonemic group, significant increases at trend level in urinary excretion of 5-HIAA (p = 0.061) and 5-HT (p = 0.071) and a significant decrease for 6-SM were found (p = 0.027). The urinary 5-HIAA:5-HT ratio was similar in the normo- versus the hyperserotonemic groups. Conclusions: The catabolism of 5-HT does not differ in the groups, but greater exposure of the platelet to 5-HT cannot be ruled out as a cause of the platelet hyperserotonemia of autism. Although only trend level significant, the data point to a need for larger studies to examine more thoroughly the relationships between platelet hyperserotonemia, gut 5-HT synthesis and melatonin production.
The Kinematics of Load Carrying in Humans and Great Apes: Implications for the Evolution of Human Bipedalism
Authors: Watson J. , Payne R. , Chamberlain A. , Jones R. , Sellers W.I.
Published: November 2009

We present a comparison of loaded and unloaded carrying kinematics in humans, common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), bonobos (Pan paniscus), western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and Bornean and Sumatran orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus and Pongo abelii). Human hindlimb joint and segment angles were collected during treadmill locomotion using infrared motion analysis cameras. Non-human primate fore- and hindlimb joint and segment angles were collected at zoos during free-ranging locomotion using a standard video camera. In quadrupedal locomotion there were small but potentially important changes associated with load carriage leading to a more upright trunk and a shift in shoulder excursion. These changes were exacerbated as locomotion shifts from quadrupedal to tripedal and bipedal gaits when carrying more awkward loads suggesting a possible adaptive sequence. However, food carrying may favour a highly flexed bent-hip bent-knee bipedal gait since it allows simultaneous foraging and hoarding. In bipedal humans no changes in limb kinematics were seen associated with type of load, although asymmetric loads may lead to lateral postural shifts. Carrying may therefore be an important component of the evolutionary shift to habitual bipedalism, although further work is needed to understand the full biomechanical implications.
Angiotensin-II-Dependent Changes in Alpha-1 Adrenoceptor Vascular Expression in Pregnant Rats
Authors: López-Sánchez Pedro , Bracho Valdés Ismael , Godínez-Hernández Daniel , Bobadilla-Lugo Rosa A.
Published: November 2009

Vessels from pregnant animals show a blunted response to adrenergic agonists. In this work, we explored if pregnancy reduces α1-adrenergic receptor (α1-AR)-mediated vascular smooth muscle protein expression as well as agonist-induced contraction in rat aorta, and if angiotensin II (Ang II) levels during pregnancy are related to these changes. Female Wistar rats were divided randomly into nonpregnant (NP) and pregnant groups (first week: P1, second week: P2, third week: P3). Subsets of animals were treated with captopril (5 mg kg–1 day–1 for 7 days; n = 6). Phenylephrine (PHE) concentration-response curves were constructed (1 × 10–9 to 3.1 × 10–5 mol/l) and α1A-, α1B- and α1D-AR were measured in the aorta by immunoblot. Captopril decreased α-AR expression in the NP group. In contrast, pregnancy decreased α1A-, α1B- and α1D-AR levels and captopril prevented this reduction. PHE sensitivity was decreased in the thoracic and abdominal aorta in the P2 group, with no changes in Emax , and Emax was decreased in the abdominal aorta in all experimental groups. Our results suggest that Ang II levels during pregnancy are related to a decrease in aortic α1-AR expression. The physiological meaning of this finding remains to be established.
Sleep and Sleep Disorders in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Collop Nancy
Published: November 2009

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of death in the US. Numerous studies have demonstrated that sleep disturbances are common in COPD patients, with more prominent complaints in patients with more severe disease and with increasing age. Sleep disturbances may occur due to the effects of breathing abnormalities on sleep and sleep disruption. However, other etiologies may include the medications used to treat COPD, concomitant anxiety and depression, and the presence of comorbid sleep disorders. The respiratory disturbances that occur in these patients during sleep have been evaluated by examining sleep-related oxygen desaturation, reduction in pulmonary function during sleep, and development of hypoventilation during rapid eye movement sleep. Treatment includes use of nocturnal oxygen therapy, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, and long-acting medications. There has been little study on improving sleep quality beyond treating the respiratory disease, despite the fact that numerous studies show poor sleep quality, a high prevalence of insomnia, and tolerability of newer hypnotic agents in the setting of COPD. This article defines the scope of sleep problems in the setting of COPD, reviews the impact of sleep on ventilation, explores the role of obstructive sleep apnea in the setting of COPD, and reviews therapeutic options.
Minimally Invasive Cochlear Implantation with Mastoidal Three-Layer Flap Technique
Authors: Ulug Tuncay , Teker Aysenur Meric
Published: November 2009

Aims: To describe and evaluate a minimally invasive cochlear implantation approach using mastoidal three-layer flap (TLF) technique. Methods: We conducted a prospective clinical study at a tertiary referral center. The study population comprised 32 males and 16 females, with an age range of 1–51 years. Thirty-nine patients were operated on using the TLF technique and 9 patients were operated on using a classical cochlear implantation technique. The TLF technique was based on using the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) as an additional, strong flap layer. The TLF, with 3 different pedicules, comprised an anteriorly based 4-cm skin flap, a superiorly based temporomastoidal flap, which included the SMAS, and an anteriorly based periostal Palva type flap in the same mastoidal area. Results: No major complications, including flap-wound problems and receiver-stimulator migration or extrusion, were encountered. The mean operation time was 66 min in the TLF population and 92 min in the classical operation population, which shows a statistically significant difference noted in the time of operation (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: The TLF cochlear implantation enables complete receiver-stimulator coverage and safe fixation without any additional procedures, while allowing reduced operation time.
Immunohistochemistry of Displaced Sensory Neurons in the Trigeminal Nerve Root
Authors: Marinković Slobodan , Çetković Mila , Gibo Hirohiko , Todorović Vera , Jančić Jasna , Milisavljević Milan
Published: November 2009

The aim of this study was to examine the morphology and the immunohistochemical features of displaced ganglion cells in the trigeminal nerve root (TNR). Forty human TNRs of 20 persons, obtained during routine autopsy in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, were examined following Klüver-Barrera and azan trichrome histological staining, and immunohistochemical reactions against certain neuronal markers, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters. A total number of 61 displaced neurons were investigated, which were present in 80% of individuals studied. Displaced neurons were found in 55.0% of the TNRs, either in the sensory portion (22.5%), motor portion (22.5%) or both (10.0%). Neuronal diameter varied from 12.5 × 25.0 to 45.0 × 63.7 (mean 27.6 × 41.6) µm, and in area between 245 and 2,065 (mean 927) µm2. Each neuron was surrounded by 2–17 elongated satellite cells per slice. The immune reaction was positive in all the neurons studied for neuron-specific enolase, protein gene product 9.5, neurofilament protein and synaptophysin, and in some neurons for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP; 24.4%), cholecystokinin (CCK; 13.3%), somatostatin (SST; 17.8%), substance P (SP; 15.6%), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (4.4%), neuropeptide Y (8.9%), and serotonin (11.1%). The immune reactions were most frequent against the CGRP, SP, CCK and SST. We concluded that displaced neurons in the TNR morphologically and immunohistochemically resembled the sensory neurons in the trigeminal ganglion.
Lactate Dehydrogenase 5 Expression in Squamous Cell Head and Neck Cancer Relates to Prognosis following Radical or Postoperative Radiotherapy
Authors: Koukourakis Michael I. , Giatromanolaki Alexandra , Winter Stuart , Leek Russel , Sivridis Efthimios , Harris Adrian L.
Published: November 2009

Objectives: We assessed the expression and the prognostic role of lactate dehydrogenase 5 (LDH5, the major LDH isoenzyme involved in anaerobic glycolysis) in patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer (SCHNC). Methods: LDH5 was assessed immunohistochemically in whole tissue sections from 141 patients with SCHNC. Of these, 102 were subjected to surgery with (90 patients) or without (12 patients) postoperative radiotherapy (group A), while 39 patients were treated with radical radiotherapy (group B). Results: Mixed nuclear/cytoplasmic LDH5 expression was detected in 72.5% of group A and 61.5% of group B patients. This was significantly related to T4-stage (p = 0.04) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression (p = 0.002). In group A, high LDH5 was linked with poorer distant metastasis-free survival (p = 0.01) and disease-specific overall survival (OS; p = 0.009). In multivariate analysis, LDH5 (p = 0.002) and HIF-1α (p = 0.01) were independently linked with distant metastasis. LDH5 was also linked with death events (p = 0.005). In group B, high LDH5 expression was significantly associated with poorer local relapse-free survival (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.01). In multivariate analysis, only T stage was a significant predictor of death events (p = 0.04). Conclusions: LDH5 is highly expressed in SCHNC and is linked with local relapse, survival and distant metastasis, suggesting that LDH5 is a marker of radioresistance and a target for therapeutic interventions.
Les limites de la génération catégorielle de sons vocaux unidimensionnels
Authors: Hupet M.
Published: November 2009

The judgmental accuracy was measured in situations where absolute judgments about various categories on a response continuum are required. Instead of presenting a perceptual stimulus to which a subject must assign a numerical response, he is given a number from 1 to N and must then generate a corresponding motor response. The amounts of transmitted information in producing vocal sounds varying in only one dimension, either their intensity or duration, are compared to the amounts in identifying analogous signals. It has been concluded that decoding and encoding processes are similarly limited in information processing. By studying the anchor effects, it has also been hypothesized that every categorial judgment is binary.
Vocalic Syllabicity in Daga
Authors: Murane John , Murane Elizabeth
Published: November 2009

Daga syllable structure is complicated by the occurrence of up to three vowels acting as a single nucleus of the syllable and sequences of up to seven vocoids in a word. For high-back and mid-back vocoids three degrees of syllabicity are contrastive, and these have been analysed in terms of semivowels and phonemic syllable division. An alternative analysis in terms of word accent is rejected.
Some Phono-Stylistic Features of Black English
Authors: von Raffler Engel Walburga
Published: November 2009

Comparable features of dialect differences between Black and White Standard English in the Central South of the United States are adduced to support the author’s hypothesis that the direction of speech programming proceeds from concept (la parole non-organisée) to verbalization (la parole organisée) and that in this process the phonological component can in no way be considered the last to appear, but is close to the semantic component and likely to precede the syntactic component. Tests of perceived well-formedness equally confirm this hypothesis.
Phonological Units in Sentence Perception
Authors: Bond Z.S.
Published: November 2009

Several studies employing the experimental task of click localization have lead to the hypothesis that syntactic structure units are the primary units in sentence perception. Studies involving reaction time to clicks in speech imply a modification of this hypothesis: That the initial perceptual unit is a phonologically defined phrase.
The Activity of the Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles in Voicing Control
Authors: Hirose H. , Gay T.
Published: November 2009

The primary purpose of this experiment was to systematically investigate the actions of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx during the production of voiced and voiceless consonants. Generally speaking, computer-averaged EMG curves for the laryngeal muscles showed participation of the posterior cricoarytenoid for voiceless consonants and suppression for voiced consonants. The reciprocal pattern was found for the interarytenoid muscle. Similar reciprocal patterns were evident along the timing dimension. These results are discussed in terms of recently proposed laryngeal feature systems.
Voyelles orales et nasales du sarde campidanien
Authors: Contini M. , Boë L.J.
Published: November 2009

This study is placed on the phonetic and phonological levels. It allows: (1) to shop up the acoustic structure of the oral and nasal vowels. Based on a spectrographic analysis the formant frequencies are controlled by statistical procedures and the relative intensities are subjected to a theoretical verification; (2) to extract the phonological system on the distinctive feature basis defined by R. Jakobson et al. [1952].
The Use of Electropalatography in Phonetic Research
Authors: Hardcastle W.J.
Published: November 2009

The instrumental technique of electropalatography (EPG) provides real-time spatio-temporal information on tongue-palate contacts during speech. In this paper various different systems of EPG are briefly reviewed, and the Edinburgh system, its limitations and its applications in disciplines such as experimental phonetics, education of the deaf, speech pathology and oral physiology are discussed.
Experiments with Synthesized Serbocroatian Tones
Authors: Lehiste Ilse , Ivić P.
Published: November 2009

The paper describes two experiments in the perception of Serbocroatian tones, using stimuli generated by means of a speech synthesizer. The first experiment tested the perception of changing fundamental frequency. It was found that in listening to a rising falling fundamental frequency contour, listeners were unable to perceive the difference between end points of the contour; they seemed to base their judgment on the difference between the peak and the terminal fundamental frequency. The second experiment tested the perception of long rising and long falling accents, using 44 synthesized forms of the word radi. Listening tests showed that the fundamental frequency pattern on the first syllable was not sufficient for identifying the accent. The additional factor that had to be present before listeners agreed in their responses was the fundamental frequency of the second syllable. For a falling first syllable, the second syllable had to acquire a fairly low value before the judgments shifted from random to falling. For a level first syllable, the fundamental frequency of the second syllable had to be at least as high as the level of the first to evoke consistent rising responses. The same applied to stimuli with a rising first syllable. In most cases, the shift was not between consistent rising or falling responses, but between either a rising or falling and a random response. The fundamental frequency patterns thus distinguish not so much between two different accents as between the presence and absence of an identifiable accent.
Analyse des variables temporelles du français spontané
Authors: Grosjean F. , Deschamps A.
Published: November 2009

This paper reviews the inherent time variables of speech and then discusses the importance of these variables for spontaneous speech activities in French. A comparison with English shows that the French speak faster than the English, this being mainly due to the smaller number of pauses introduced into their discourse, not to the rate of articulation, nor to the length of pauses. Moreover, it follows from the analysis of the syntactic distribution of unfilled pauses that 75 % occur at the end of sense groups (60 % at the end of clauses) and that pauses inside clauses are shorter (median 0.40 sec) than final ones (median 0.50 sec). Finally, the investigation of secondary variables (other hesitation pauses) shows the importance of ‘articulation’ pauses (which consist of filled pauses and of drawls) and the prime role played by grammatical words in the categories: drawls, repetitions and false starts.
Le phonème indéterminé
Authors: Tilkov D.
Published: November 2009

The term ‘neutral vowel’ should apply to an acoustic-articulatory description, and the term, ‘indeterminate vowel’ to a description of a phonological system. Three applications of the vowel [É™] can be observed: (1) in partial systems wherein it has no distinctive value; (2) in systems in which it is negatively determined, with a very low phonological outpout; (3) in systems in which the vowel [É™] plays the same distinctive role as the other phonemes.
Lautdauerverhältnisse im Ungarischen bei ruhigem und beschleunigtem Sprechtempo
Authors: Wodarz-Magdics Klara
Published: November 2009

On the basis of a big material, the duration of speech sounds at normal and accelerated speed is investigated. The changes of the duration due to an accelerated speed of utterance are pointed out. The relation between these changes and the environment of the sounds are examined.
Syllabic Rate and Utterance Length in French
Authors: Malécot A. , Johnston R. , Kizziar P.-A.
Published: November 2009

This third article in a series presenting the results of a computer-assisted analysis of a vast data file, based on recordings of upper middle-class Parisian conversations, deals with syllabic rate and utterance length. Performance standards are established for teaching, linguistic theory and voice-processing technology. Variations in these aspects of speech are studied as functions of a number of demographic, psychological, intellectual and phonetic background parameters. Syllabic rate is found to vary as a function of sex, age, occupation and certain intentions, while utterance length varies as a function of age, occupation, certain intentions, certain attitudes and loudness. Overall rate averages turn out to be strikingly consistent, most speakers showing about 344 syll/min. Finally, a positive correlation exists between utterance length and syllabic rate; the longer the utterance, the faster the rate and vice versa. A hypothesis is suggested that these results reflect language universals.
Zur synchronischen und diachronischen Interpretation althochdeutscher Schreibungen
Authors: Penzl H.
Published: November 2009

In response to W. G. Moulton’s critical review of the book by Penzl, published in 1971, the author stresses the importance of graphemic and distributional analysis in the phonetic interpretation of historical spellings and of a careful distinction between phonotactic rules, individual phonemic systems, abstract overall patterns. He explains his interpretation of Old High German digraph and geminate spellings as phonemic clusters (except for the fricatives ff
hh
zz; aa, etc.). He rejects the interpretation of ‘direct spelling variation’ (e.g. fraono, frono) as representing allophonic fluctuation and as synchronic evidence for an intermediate stage of a phonemic change.
Effect of Speaking Rate on Labial Consonant Production
Authors: Gay T. , Hirose H.
Published: November 2009

This experiment used electromyography and direct, high-speed motion picture photography, in combination, to describe the effect of speaking rate on the production of labial consonants. Electromyographic signals from a number of facial muscles were recorded simultaneously with high-speed motion pictures of the lips, from two subjects. The speech material consisted of syllables containing the consonants /p b m w/ in both CV and VC combinations with the vowels /i a u/. The major finding of this experiment is that an increase in speaking rate is accompanied by both an increase in the activity level of the muscle as well as an increase in the speed of movement of the articulators. The data also showed certain manner effects and instances of both subject-to-subject and individual token variability. These findings are discussed in terms of theoretical models of speech production.
Sound Spectral Properties of Conditioned Vocalization in Monkeys
Authors: Larson C.R. , Sutton D. , Taylor E.M. , Lindeman R.
Published: November 2009

Four monkeys were trained to emit vocalizations which were analyzed with a sound spectrograph and swept-frequency analyzer. Over the course of the study, the monkeys increased the duration of their calls and changed the character of the calls by the elimination of noise and high-frequency harmonics. At the end of training, the calls emitted by the four monkeys were similar to each other in frequency composition, and there was consistency of vocal format among successive calls given by an individual monkey. It is suggested that nonhuman primates be utilized for the further study of mechanisms of phonation.
Methodische Voruntersuchung zum Problem der sprachlichen Interferenz
Authors: Sederqvist Anni
Published: November 2009

With the language constellation of Norwegian/German, a methodology is developed to analyse features of linguistic interference within a given material (e.g. a continuous reading sample). Every particular text segment is given a pattern of binary traits, defined in terms of the present problem, so as to point out and to specify the points of interference. These patterns of traits are checked by means of a listening test, i.e. in a communicative situation. As shown by the statistical treatment of the results, the following conclusions are drawn. No particular trait alone does give a sufficient prediction of interference, whereby such effects are indicated by certain selective combinations of characteristics. This concept is further confirmed by analyses of speaker reliability and correlative connections of the traits.
Generative Phonology
Authors: Hammarström Göran
Published: November 2009

Generative phonology and, to some extent, generative transformational linguistics in general, is criticized for its extreme process model, intuitively unacceptable underlying abstractions, its lack of synchrony and exaggerated praise for one’s own achievements coupled with overstated criticism of other orientations. To the author’s mind, what is good in the generative transformational theory is not new and what is new is not good.
Contribution à l’étude de la fonction linguistique du larynx
Authors: Lhote E.
Published: November 2009

Among the various functions of the larynx which have become mixed during speech we distinguish: the phonatory function which is accomplished by individual voice qualities during speech and the linguistic function which is used to oppose elements of a communication system. In this work glottography is both an approach to the individual properties of the voice and a technique for the objective and subjective study of the tonal systems of tone languages. The main linguistic function of the larynx is in the timing of vocal cord vibrations.
The Effect of Fundamental Frequency Variations on the Perception of Stress in German
Authors: Bleakley D.
Published: November 2009

An analysis of fundamental frequency variations occurring with stressed syllables in a sample of natural German speech is used to examine some of the results obtained by Isačenko and Schädlich from experiments with synthesized speech. Isačenko and Schädlich’s results indicated that perceptible rises and falls in fundamental frequency can lead to the perception of stress. The present analysis indicates that not all syllables with which perceptible fundamental frequency variations occur are heard as stressed; but it is possible that the last change in pitch direction in an ‘information unit’ leads to the perception of stress on the syllable with which the change is associated.
Dynamic Palatography
Authors: Palmer John M.
Published: November 2009

This report highlights general implications stemming from two studies of normal subjects’ articulation via dynamic palatography instrumentation. The Kydd-Belt palatal device was utilized in association, first, with cinematographic recording of a light palatal analog, then with a 12-channel multiple-event counting system; a 13th channel recorded the presence of laryngeal tone, while a 14th channel recorded time segments. Patterning of contacts, ‘approach’ patterns, seating, and release behavior, as well as attempts to associate contacts with laryngeal tone were examined. The results are discussed in terms of their general implications to the act of articulation, the behavior of the tongue apex and lateral borders, symmetry of contacts, and sequencing of linguapalatal contacts.
The Relationship between Internal Intercostal Muscle Activity and Pause Placement in the Connected Utterance of Native and Non-Native Speakers of English
Authors: Adams Corinne , Munro R.R.
Published: November 2009

An electromyographic investigation of the internal intercostal muscles in connected utterance together with an analysis of pause placement has been carried out with native and non-native (Asian) speakers of English. A characteristic pattern of muscle activity was found in native speakers. Its essential features were an overall progressive increase in activity throughout the item, localized bursts of activity before commencement of speech phrases, and decrease or cessation of activity with long pauses. The non-native speakers tended to produce repetitive EMG patterns within the one item. Another feature of their utterance was the use of numerous pauses, many of which were inappropriate in placement and duration. The physiological implications of this pattern are discussed. This faulty organization and timing of rhythm units was attributed to the syllable-timed nature of the subjects’ first language, to their method of learning English, and to their lack of experience in speaking English. The internal intercostal muscle activity pattern appeared to be related mainly to the speaker’s degree of linguistic proficiency.
Peut-on interpréter les données de la radiocinématographie en fonction du tube acoustique à section uniforme?
Authors: Pétursson Magnus
Published: November 2009

Is it possible to interpret lateral cineradiographic data according to a model consisting of a single tube of constant cross-area? Some considerations after the analysis of the modern Icelandic vowel system. The possibility of interpreting lateral cineradiographic data, synchronized with spectrograms, according to a model consisting of a single tube of constant cross-area, is discussed. The result of this analysis is absolutely negative, although one has asserted the contrary. The positive results of this investigation are a thoroughly new view of the modern Icelandic vowel system. The vowel system resulting from this analysis shows a considerable deviation from the traditional descriptions that have prevailed hitherto.
Phonological Analysis of the Russian ‘Word’
Authors: Grunwell Pamela
Published: November 2009

The paper presents a detailed analysis of the phonology of the Russian ‘word’ based on the principles of the Firthian theory of Prosodic Analysis. The word is defined as the unit of stress placement and systems of vowel units are set up according to the stress prosody operating on the syllable. Palatality is treated as a prosody of syllable beginning and/or syllable ending having phonetic exponents in both the consonant and vowel phonematic units. Thus, it will be seen that such an analysis avoids inconsistencies and inadequacies of the phoneme-based approaches.
Empirische Vorüberlegungen zu einem numerischen Perzeptionsmodell der Suprasegmentalia
Authors: Drommel R. , Geršić S. , Hintzenberg Dagmar
Published: November 2009

A method of accounting for perceived suprasegmental parameters, which was outlined in a previous paper, is tested for applicability. The arithmetic means of parameter profiles for three different groups of listeners in a short excerpt from a French text show an unexpected degree of uniformity, which makes further analyses of spontaneous texts worthwhile.
Vorschläge zu einem Kugelkopf-Schreibsystem mit phonetischen Zeichen
Authors: Geršić S.
Published: November 2009

This contribution examines the subject-specific technical demands on the development of golf balls with phonetic symbols for typewriters and offers a detailed suggestion for its realization.
Instrumental Investigations of Lingual Activity during Speech: A Survey
Authors: Hardcastle W.J.
Published: November 2009

Detailed information on the motions and configurations of the tongue during speech is crucial for a complete understanding of the control of speech production by neural mechanisms. In this paper, the main available instrumental techniques for obtaining information on lingual activity are briefly described and their potential application in speech research critically evaluated.
An Aerodynamic Study of Stops in Sindhi
Authors: Nihalani Paroo
Published: November 2009

This paper deals with supra-glottal (Psupra) and sub-glottal (Psub) air pressures in the production of stops in Sindhi. Sindhi has the fullest stop system of any Indo-Aryan languages. Besides a contrast between voicing and unvoicing, aspiration and un-aspiration, there is a contrast between compression and rarefaction too. This paper studies the physiological events with reference to both the time factor and the aerodynamics of the breath stream. Pneumotachography and laryngoscopy with fiber-optics bundle are some of the techniques employed to obtain quantitative data. Experimental data given here reveal various complex mechanisms of articulatory timing and co-ordination of the oral, pharyngeal, velopharyngeal, laryngeal and respiratory structures.
Allgemeine Signalphonetik als phonetische Informationserschließung
Authors: Vieregge Wilhelm H.
Published: November 2009

After a short critical presentation of the position of phonetics as a scientific discipline, it is shown how to develop the concept of ‘disclosure of phonetic information’ (phonetische Informationserschlieβung). One can see that it is possible to understand the ‘signal phonetics’ (Signalphonetik) as a process of disclosure of phonetic information along the fields of manifestation of phonetic information (Manifestationsbereiche) within the chain: speaker, transmission medium, and hearer.
Speaker Identification from Turbulent Portions of Fricatives
Authors: La Riviere Conrad
Published: November 2009

Previous reports have not indicated whether inter-speaker variation in the production of fricative consonants is great enough so that turbulence can serve as a cue in speaker identification. In this experiment 12 listeners were exposed to isolated turbulence portions of fricatives, as produced by 8 male speakers, and asked to judge speaker identity. Results indicate that speakers can be identified from such stimuli, that the addition of a laryngeal source results in higher identification levels, and that performance tends to improve as place of articulation moves posteriorly.
Coarticulation of Upper Lip Protrusion in French
Authors: Benguerel André-Pierre , Cowan Helen A.
Published: November 2009

This study investigates the temporal organization of upper lip protrusion in French. A photocell was used to transduce upper lip movement into a recordable electrical signal. The utterances under study were recorded by six native speakers of French. Three aspects of the protrusion gesture are examined: extent of protrusion, velocity, and transition time. Results indicate differences between these three measures for the production of /u/ as compared to /y/ as well as differences when upper lip movement is directed away from its target protrusion position as compared to when it is directed toward its target protrusion position. This study also includes an attempt to determine onset of protrusion in a consonant cluster followed by a rounded vowel. Results show that the protrusion movement due to the rounding of the second vowel of a group –VCC ... CV– starts as early as the first consonant of a cluster of 4–6 consonants. In some cases, it even starts during the vowel preceding the cluster. These results do not support Kozhevnikov and Chistovich’s model of a CC ... CV-type syllable. On the other hand, they are compatible with Henke’s articulatory model of speech production.
Theories and Methods in Spanish Intonational Studies
Authors: Kvavik Karen H. , Olsen Carroll L.
Published: November 2009

The paper demonstrates and evaluates the various approaches used in Spanish intonational research. Dialectal studies, theoretical and methodological approaches, and intonation representational schemata are reviewed in a chronological order and integrated with the main theoretical currents of the field. The authors suggest directions for future research and present a summary of their own investigations into two dialects of Spanish – Castilian and Mexican – using the computerized intonation extractor of the University of Toronto.
Test sur la perception des voyelles orales françaises par des Français et des étrangers
Authors: Calbris G.
Published: November 2009

The variations requested about 14 vocal pairs confirm two privileged axes: one horizontal of gravity, the other vertical of aperture, with however on each of the axes an interference between both aspects. Besides these common points, to which belongs the perception of /o/ as the gravest vowel, the results obtained with Frenchmen differ from those of the foreigners in so far as the native speakers are revealed to have a more phonological than phonetic and a more proprioceptive than auditory perception. Likewise, we notice the emergence of two perceptive axes: an auditory acute/grave axe, which is rather linked to the volume of the cavity, and a proprioceptive ‘opening’/‘closure’ axe, which is linked to the joined factors of aperture and retraction as opposed to closure and labialization. The clearness of the vowel becomes a result of the acuity and of the perceptive ‘opening’, the darkness a result of the gravity and of the ‘closure’.
Discrimination Learning of Nasalized and Non-Nasalized Vowels by Five-, Six-, and Seven-Year-OId Children
Authors: Gilbert John H. , Wyman Virginia J.
Published: November 2009

15 predominantly English-speaking, and 9 predominantly French-speaking kindergarten and grade one children served as subjects in an experiment designed to investigate discrimination learning of distinctive features. Stimuli were presented aurally and consisted of (a) meaningful non-linguistic sounds, (b) four non-nasalized vowels, (c) nasalized equivalents of the non-nasalized vowels. Results showed that: (a) linguistic stimuli were not as well learned as non-linguistic stimuli, (b) nasalized vowels were learned significantly less well than their non-nasalized equivalents, and (c) only the distinctive feature [± nasal] appeared to correlate with discrimination learning scores. The other features, [ ± round] and [ ± back], did not appear to operate independently in vowel perception. No evidence was obtained to support the hypothesis that one feature is more easily learned than other features within a discrimination learning task, or that a hierarchy governing the perception of distinctive features exists.
Stress in Icelandic
Authors: Liberman A.S.
Published: November 2009

The author sets out to reconsider the relationships between stress and quantity in Icelandic. He comes to the conclusion that since in Icelandic the same line separates stress from non-stress and the long from the short, there is no need to introduce both length and stress into the phonological description of this language. The only objective criterion of classifying Icelandic syllables is the so-called quantitative peak. Icelandic, as well as all the other Germanic languages and Russian, shows that stress does not just mark off a syllable as a physical entity; it rather turns it into a plaything of other forces: phonematic or prosodic, as the case may be.
Analyse contrastive des variables temporelles de l’anglais et du français: vitesse de parole et variables composantes, phénomènes d’hésitation
Authors: Grosjean François , Deschamps Alain
Published: November 2009

This paper analyses the different temporal variables of English and French in a similar linguistic task, namely radio-interviews. Both languages show a great deal of similarities, but differ considerably with regard to silent pauses and the distribution of the secondary variables. A tentative explanation for these differences is given; it is partly based on the hypothesis that the two languages have the same over-all behaviour in view of a given linguistic task, but differ in the distribution of the simple variables. A compensation would therefore take place at the level of the simple variables leading to identical central values for the complex variables of the two languages.
Cinefluorographic Study of Selected Allophones of English /I/
Authors: Giles Stephen B. , Moll Kenneth L.
Published: November 2009

The purpose of this cinefluorographic study of a number of allophonic variations of English /l/ was to describe the articulatory characteristics of these variations and to assess factors which may be responsible for the variations. Three subjects produced a speech sample containing English words and phrases while the high speed cinefluorographic films were made. The observed variability centered around two allophone groups, the prevocalic and the post-vocalic, having different articulatory characteristics. The pre-vocalic productions showed a more anterior lingual position and faster speed of movement than was observed for the post-vocalic group. Consequently, the pre-vocalic allophones showed no undershoot of the anterior lingual contact, while the post-vocalics did show undershoot of this position. The syllabic /l/ productions displayed lingual configurations like the post-vocalic group and movement characteristics like those shown when /l/ is articulated in a pre-vocalic cluster. Variation within the three major allophone groups can be explained within current concepts of coarticulation and articulatory undershoot.
Untersuchung zur Vokaldauer im Deutschen
Authors: Rietveld A.C.M.
Published: November 2009

Nooteboom discovered several quantitative rules describing the effects of stress and number of syllables in a word on the duration of the vowels of the words concerned. Our experiment has tried to prove the applicability of some of these rules to the German language.
Etude statistique de la fréquence laryngienne
Authors: Boë Louis-Jean , Contini Michel , Rakotofiringa Hippolyte
Published: November 2009

Some precisions concerning the specification and the instruments developed for the measurement of laryngeal frequency F1 being stated, the authors give statistical results for French. In first approximation, the F1 distribution is gaussian for a given corpus; the standard deviation measured and given in percentage referring to the mean laryngeal frequency F1 is about 16% for male and female speakers. Ceteris partibus, the variations of F1 are relatively low for a given speaker from one record to an other (about ± ½ tone). The means of F1 are given for samples (gaussian) concerning adults (30 males and 30 female): respectively 118 and 207 Hz with standard deviation σ (F1) of 18 and 20 Hz. The ratio ?1 of the voiced duration to the total duration of the corpus, dependant on the sex: 0.50 for men and 0.63 for women (the difference is significant at the 0.001 level) allows the specification of the speaking rate. When the speaking rate increases, the length of pauses decreases. These results can be used for an estimation of the precision of the statistical measurement of F1 and σ (F1), in relation to the number of periods N. To N appears a total duration of the corpus determined by ?1. A comparison is made between the results of the calculation and the measurement. The F1 specification can be used for determination of the vocal source of synthesizer to improve naturalness of synthetic sounds and for analysis and synthesis of prosodic features using the results of two previous papers which have allowed to specify the position of level 1 2 and 4 and to show the differences in the perceptual importance of the variations introduced in connection with the three levels.
Variation in Dialect Proficiency and Restructuring
Authors: Hameyer Klaus
Published: November 2009

This paper investigates the linguistic consequences of the post-World War II relocation of low-German speaking Pomeranians in the west. These speakers have been under the influence of three language norms; those of standard German, of Pomeranian low-German, and of Schleswig-Holstein low-German for 25 years. The study shows that the Pomeranian dialect has not been retained to the same extent by all speakers, and moreover, that the variable proficiency does not correlate with age, even though it is often assumed that older speakers necessarily speak a ‘purer’ dialect, but rather it correlates with social factors and structural factors of the dialect. As regards the structural factors, it is shown that reinforcement, i.e. the agreement of the Pomeranian dialect form with that of standard German or Holstein low-German, is significant. Eleven phonological traits of the Pomeranian dialect are studied in the speech of twelve migrated speakers.
Analyse phonologique du maltais
Authors: Krier Fernande
Published: November 2009

This study analyzes the phonemes of Maltese, an Arabic dialect which has been much influenced by Sicilian and Italian. The method of commutation allows to bring out the phonemes which are defined and classified; then follows the treatment of their combinations and the prosodic features. A specimen of the corpus is added in phonetic and phonemic transcription.
French Liaison as a Function of Grammatical, Phonetic and Paralinguistic Variables
Authors: Malécot André
Published: November 2009

This article, the sixth in a series presenting the results of a computer-assisted analysis of a tape-recorded corpus of natural conversations by members of the educated middle-class of Paris, deals with liaison. The results, as compared to those of earlier studies on this subject, show a number of interesting differences, possibly due to recent linguistic evolution. The frequency of liaison is studied in the context of (1) the grammatical functions of the contiguous words involved in the phenomenon, (2) the phonetic characteristics of the liaison consonant and (3) a number of paralinguistic variables such as sex, age, occupation, syllabic rate, loudness, the attitude and posture of the speaker, and subject matter. These results are incorporated into a new table of practical rules for the linguist, teacher and student of French, that also specifies liaison differences between the conversational style of the dominant (Ile-de-France) dialect of French and the artistic affectation known as elocution.