bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Phonological Reality of Locus Equations across Manner Class Distinctions: Preliminary Observations
Authors: Sussman Harvey M. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
The present study extends the phonological realm of locus equations to include nasals, fricatives, approximants and unas-pirated voiceless stops. The question of interest was to determine if locus equation slopes and y-intercepts could serve as phonetic descriptors for place of articulation across varied manner classes. Fourteen speakers, 7 male and 7 female, produced CVC tokens with 10 medial vowels and initial consonants varying across manner classes. F<sub>2</sub> onset and F<sub>2</sub> vowel frequencies were acoustically determined and plotted as locus equations. Fairly distinct clustering of slope and y-intercept coordinates were found for labial, dental/alveolar and velar places of articulation. Approximants (/w, j, r, l/) formed a unique cluster of points characterized by slope = 0 and contrasted solely by y-intercepts – correlates of steady-state onset frequencies of approximant productions. The consistent linearity observed in all locus equation plots across all consonant-vowel tokens is discussed according to the orderly-output constraint that hypothesizes that the robust linearity of the acoustic F<sub>2</sub> transition onset-to-offset relationship exists to best serve neural encoding and perception of the speech signal.
Musical Significance of Musicians’ Syllable Choice in Improvised Nonsense Text Singing: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Sundberg Johan 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
When informally singing memorized instrumental or vocal themes, we tend to invent nonsense texts, e.g. duda duda dudaa. This article presents a first attempt to test the assumption that in this type of singing the choice of syllables is guided by certain principles which reflect musical structure. In one experiment, 11 members of a professional orchestra sang 6 melodical excerpts, and their choice of syllables was analyzed. With regard to the phonetic properties, this choice showed a certain coherence. In a second experiment, one of the subjects showed by articulatory markings such as slurs, dots and dashes his preferred performance of the same 6 excerpts. Comparisons with his syllable choice suggested that the syllables are musically meaningful. In a third experiment, this subject’s performance suggestions were compared with the occurrence of micropauses in rule-generated performances of the same 6 excerpts; the result suggested that the phonetic characteristics of the syllables in this kind of singing are used for conveying information about grouping.
Cross-Language Differences in Phonological Acquisition: Swedish and American /t/
Authors: Stoel-Gammon Carol , Williams Karen , Buder Eugene 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Our understanding of phonological acquisition has benefited immensely from cross-linguistic investigations which allow researchers to separate biological and learned factors. To date, most cross-linguistic studies have focused either on differences in phonetic inventories or on differences in frequency of occurrence of particular phonetic and phonological properties in the adult language. This paper describes a third type of study: comparisons of segments that occur in two (or more) languages but differ in their phonetic properties. We present perceptual and acoustic analyses of adult and child productions of word-initial alveolar /t/ in American English and dental /t/ in Swedish. Results showed that listeners’ perception of place of articulation was strongly associated with language (alveolar: American English, dental: Swedish) for both adult and child tokens, and was effective in assigning individual speakers to language groups. Three acoustic measures, voice onset time, burst intensity and burst spectral diffuseness correlated with language for both child and adult tokens; the latter two measures correlated with perception as well. The findings suggest that American and Swedish children at 30 months of age have acquired some language-specific phonetic aspects of/t/ phonemes.
The Nature and Origins of Ambient Language Influence on Infant Vocal Production and Early Words
Authors: Vihman Marilyn May , de Boysson-Bardies Bénédicte 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Phonological structure may be seen as emerging in ontogeny from the combined effects of performance constraints rooted in the neuromotor and perceptual systems, individual lexical development and the influence of the particular ambient language. We review here the nature and origins of the earliest ambient language influences. Global effects within the first year of life include both (1) loss of early appearing phonetic gestures not supported by the ambient language and (2) positive effects, reflecting infant attention to prosody and to cues available in the visual as well as the auditory modality. In the course of early lexical development more specific effects become manifest as individual children pursue less common phonetic paths to which the ambient language provides ‘sufficient exposure’.
Automaticity in Speech Perception: Some Speech/Nonspeech Comparisons
Authors: Johnson Keith , Ralston James V. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Three experiments used sine-wave replicas of speech sounds to explore some differences between speech perception and general auditory perception. The experiments compared patterns of behavior in categorization and discrimination tasks for listeners reporting either speech or nonspeech percepts of sine-wave replicas of speech. We hypothesized that the perception of speech sounds is automatized, while the perception of less familiar sounds is not. The first experiment was designed to investigate the perception of relatively long initial consonant transitions using a synthetic /wa/-/ya/ sine-wave analog continuum. Speech listeners perceived the continuum categorically, but nonspeech listeners could not consistently categorize the items in the continuum. In the second experiment, both speech and nonspeech listeners could consistently categorize stimuli having final glides (an /ay/-/aw/ sine-wave replica continuum), but differences between speech and nonspeech listeners were found in the slopes of the identification functions, in reaction times, and in the effect of context. These differences are consistent with the hypothesis that speech perception is automatized. In the third experiment, nonspeech listeners’ discrimination sensitivity was greater than speech listeners’. The observed pattern of results suggests that speech perception is accomplished by a fast, obligatory, and thus automatic perceptual mechanism.
Aerodynamic Evidence for Articulatory Overlap in Korean
Authors: Silverman Daniel , Jun Jongho 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Aerodynamic evidence indicates the existence of overlapped labial//velar sequences in Korean. Oral pressure readings for [ipku] show a brief rarefaction in oral pressure during the consonantal sequence, indicating that tongue retraction during a front-back vowel sequence occurs simultaneously with full closures at the labial and velar places of articulation. This confluence of phenomena results in the observed pressure rarefaction due to expansion of the sealed oral cavity. Similarly, pressure readings for [upki] show a brief, marked increase during the consonantal sequence, indicating that tongue advancement during a back-front vowel sequence temporally overlaps with full closures at both the labial and velar places of articulation. This results in a pressure increase due to contraction of the sealed oral cavity. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate consonant coproduction in terms of oral pressure, and to report on coarticulatory effects involving four sequenced segments.
Phonetic Explanations for Cross-Linguistic Prosodic Similarities
Authors: Vaissière Jacqueline 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
A relatively wide range of cross-language similarities in prosodic patterns, i.e. not only in the final fall of statements and the like, but also the treatment of compound words, the marking of phonetic integrity of underlying semantic blocks and their hierarchy may be explained if the typical prosodic configurations are hypothesised to arise from a common archetypal, biologically related (rise-fall) contour, and from a few derived contrastive (rise-nonfall) patterns, whose characteristics may be motivated on psychological and/or ethological grounds. The rise-fall contour seems to be recursively implemented on different sizes of constituents; a rise appears to be mainly associated with the notion of beginning and uncompleteness, a fall with the notion of end, and the valley (fall-rise) with the notion of disjuncture.
Feature, Phoneme, Syllable or Word: How Is Speech Mentally Represented?
Authors: Sendlmeier Walter F. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Four experimental approaches frequently used in speech perception research are discussed with respect to their impact on word recognition models and their implicit assumptions on the mental representation of speech. These approaches are (1) reaction time experiments; (2) the procedure of click localisation; (3) the method of selective adaptation, and (4) the assessment of word similarities. The results of the studies vary as a function of the experimental procedure chosen. Phonetic features, single sounds, syllables and words as entities are alternatively favoured as primary perceptual units. A critical evaluation and an attempt at integrating the data lead to the assumption that the adult speaker/listener has different kinds of mental representation of speech at his/her disposal. Depending on the focus of perception, units of different sizes are primarily focused in the recognition process. This implies that the listener is able to modify his/her temporal analysis window to a certain extent. Nonetheless, as a default case, the syllable serves as the primary perceptual unit.
Phonetic Interpretation of the Word Accent Contrast in Swedish
Authors: Engstrand Olle 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
This paper reports an experimental phonetic study of the acute and grave word accents in Central Standard Swedish. The hypothesis was that the fall in fundamental frequency (F₀) observed on the primary stressed syllable in grave words is a direct consequence of the word accent, while the corresponding fall in F₀ in acute words reflects sentence level intonation. Three male subjects read speech material designed to illustrate how these falls in F₀ are influenced by intonational context. The main finding was that the grave fall was substantial and consistent, whereas an acute fall appeared only in certain contexts. The results indicated that an F₀ fall is a positive acousticperceptual requirement for the grave accent, while the acute accent constitutes the unmarked member of the contrast, i.e., ‘acute’ equals ‘non-grave’.
Effect of Fundamental Frequency on Medial [+Voice] / [–Voice] Judgments
Authors: Diehl Randy L. , Molis Michelle R. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Previous research has suggested that the direction of short-duration fundamental frequency (F₀) perturbations following consonants helps to signal consonant [+voice]/[––voice] (abbreviated as [voice]) status. It has been proposed that the [voice] cue corresponds to the direction and extent of F₀ perturbations relative to the overall intonation contour. A competing view, the low-frequency hypothesis, suggests that F₀ participates in a more general way whereby low-frequency energy near the consonant contributes to [+voice] judgments. Listeners identified multiple stimulus series, each varying in voice onset time and ranging from /aga/ to /aka/. The series differed in overall intonation contour as well as in the direction of F₀ perturbation relative to that contour. Consistent with one version of the low-frequency hypothesis, the F₀ value at voicing onset, rather than the relative direction of the F₀ perturbation, was the best predictor of [voice] judgments.
Explaining the Dispersion of the Single-Vowel Occurrences in an F1/F2 Space
Authors: Iivonen Antti 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
The variability of the Finnish vowel occurrences on the F<sub>1</sub>/F<sub>2</sub> chart was studied. Repetitions (n = 8 x 10 + 10 = 160) of two syllable types, /hVh/ and /tVt/, produced by a male speaker were analysed. The F<sub>1</sub>/F<sub>2</sub> variability in both contexts was estimated. In the /hVh/ context, the phoneme targets were considerably more peripheral than in the /tVt/ contexts. In the /tVt/ context, the phoneme placements were nearer the upper left corner of the F<sub>1</sub>/F<sub>2</sub> space in /u/, /o/, /a/, and /æ/. That is understandable on the basis of the alveolar tongue blade position: the tongue holds its position nearer the alveolar area during its movement from [t] to [V] and back to [t] compared to the [hVh] articulation. In the latter articulation, the tongue is free to move and the vowel reaches its ideal position. This interpretation was corroborated by means of the test items with an open syllable (/tVV/). In order to explain the variability of the repetitions in one context, the notion of auditory critical band window (CBW) was used. A CBW covers an area on the psycho-acoustical F<sub>1</sub>/F<sub>2</sub> plot that comprises 1 bark on the F<sub>1</sub> and F<sub>2</sub> scales. Its modification CBW-F<sub>1</sub> implies that a critical band is presented as a circle comprising the diameter of 1 bark according to the F<sub>1</sub> scale. Practically all single F<sub>1</sub>/F<sub>2</sub> points occur within the CBW-F<sub>1</sub> circle. In most cases, the variability is smaller than one CBW-F<sub>1</sub> circle, but we can consider that a greater amount of repetions would yield a greater dispersion. The auditorily motivated CBW-F<sub>1</sub> circle might appear to be a good prediction for the articulation precision.
Schwa vs. Schwa + /r/ in German
Authors: Barry William J. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
German has two functionally distinctive vowels that only occur in unstressed position, one being schwa, the other stemming from schwa + vocalized /r/. Although traditionally acknowledged, with an established IPA symbolic representation [e] vs. [a], little attention has been paid to the phonetic basis of their functional distinction. This paper addresses their contextual variability, and discusses some of the implications for production models found in the literature.
Generalizability of Current Models of Vowel Duration
Authors: Gopal H.S. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
This paper assesses the generalizability and scope of the three main models of vowel duration: the incompressibility, multiplicative, and additive models. Combinations of vowel tensity with speaking rate, postvocalic consonantal voicing with rate, and tensity with voicing were studied in a database consisting of vowels in a CVC context in sentence frames. Combinations of four pairs of long and short vowels in four different postvocalic consonantal conditions were spoken by 7 speakers of American English across a wide variation in rate. Acoustic analysis of vowel durations revealed only partial support for each of the three models, as none of them adequately captured the combined influences of these three factors. Further, there were observed instances of combinations of effects that were not predicted by any of the models, even instances that were the exact opposite of predictions of the models. A general approach of representing and studying duration behavior is suggested by using simple regression analysis and making slope comparisons of the effects of various factors. This approach provides a framework for describing all of the outcomes in the study, representing all of the three existing models of duration and accounting for outcomes not predicted by any of the models. Within this approach, attaching special importance to interpretations of incompressibility, constant ratios and facilitation is shown to be unnecessary.
Durée acoustique des semi-consonnes et de leur voyelle correspondante en français du Québec
Authors: Martin Pierre 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Le present article fait la synthèse d’une recherche ayant porté sur l’analyse acoustique de la durée des semi-consonnes et de leur voyelle correspondante en français actuel du Québec. Trois classes de sons ont été considérées: [u] et [y], [w] et [u], puis [j]-[jj] et [i]-[ij]-[ji]-[ijι]. Les formes soumises à l’analyse proviennent d’enregistrements effectués auprès de jeunes étudiants d’université. Seuls les segments ayant fait l’objet d’une unanimité perceptive de la part des transcripteurs ont été examinés. La durée totale et la durée de chacune des phases (attaque, tenue, transition) de chaque son ont été étudiées. Tout en reconnaissant que plusieurs autres paramètres peuvent aussi intervenir, nous montrons que la durée est un facteur essentiel dans la différenciation entre les semi-consonnes et la voyelle correspondante, en français. En effet, non seulement la durée totale des segments est un facteur indispensable dans cette différenciation, mais la proportion qu’occupe chaque phase par rapport à la durée totale des segments l’est également.
Acoustic Correlates of Stress in Thai
Authors: Potisuk Siripong , Gandour Jack , Harper Mary P. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Acoustic correlates of stress [duration, fundamental frequency (F₀), and intensity] were investigated in a language (Thai) in which both duration and F₀ are employed to signal lexical contrasts. Stimuli consisted of 25 pairs of segmentally/tonally identical, syntactically ambiguous sentences. The first member of each sentence pair contained a two-syllable noun-verb sequence exhibiting a strong-strong (– –) stress pattern, the second member a two-syllable noun compound exhibiting a weak-strong (<sub>˘</sub> –)stress pattern. Measures were taken of five prosodic dimensions of the rhyme portion of the target syllable: duration, average F₀, F₀ standard deviation, average intensity, and intensity standard deviation. Results of linear regression indicated that duration is the predominant cue in signaling the distinction between stressed and unstressed syllables in Thai. Discriminant analysis showed a stress classification accuracy rate of over 99%. Findings are discussed in relation to the varying roles that F₀, intensity, and duration have in different languages given their phonological structure.
A Study of Kono Tone Spacing
Authors: Hogan John T. , Manyeh Morie 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Measurements were made of the fundamental frequency of a register two-tone language, Kono, a Northern Mande language from the Niger-Congo group. This language has the tonal feature of downstep which conveys linguistic information in specific contexts and introduces a terracing effect on successive high tones. The physical values were converted into their musical scale equivalents and comparisons were made with a three-tone system. They were found to be different. Observations of local and global tone ranges were made and were discussed in terms of tone spacing.
Internal Structure of Phonetic Categories: Effects of Speaking Rate
Authors: Miller Joanne L. , O’Rourke Timothy B. , Volaitis Lydia E. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Many studies have shown that listeners process speech in a rate-dependent manner, altering the location of phonetic category boundaries in accord with the acoustic consequences of a change in rate during speech production. In a recent series of papers that focused on a voicing contrast, we reported that the perceptual adjustment for rate is not limited to the region of the category boundary, but extends to well within the category, producing a change in which stimuli are perceived to be the best category exemplars. In the current paper, we provide evidence for the generality of this effect by showing analogous results for a /b/––/w/ contrast, specified by transition duration. The implications of these findings for models of rate-dependent processing are discussed.
Locus Equations and the Degree of Coarticulation of Arabic Consonants
Authors: Yeou Mohamed 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
The intent of the present study is to investigate the information for place of articulation provided by locus equations, using Moroccan speakers of Modern Standard Arabic. Locus equations are straight-line regression function fits to co-ordinates derived by relating onsets of F<sub>2</sub> transitions of different vowels to their corresponding steady states. Ten subjects produced CVCVC(VC) tokens, the first consonant of each was one of the following list: (/f/, /b/, / bx/, /s/, /sx/, /d/, /dx/, /t/, /tx/, /σ/, /h/, /χ). Each initial consonant was followed by one of the six vowels (/i/, /æ/, /u/, /i:/, /æ:/, /u:/). The present study attempted to explore to what extent locus equations can distinguish between different consonants varying in place and manner of articulation. The findings are of two kinds. On the one hand, locus equations do not reflect certain place-of-articulation distinctions when many consonants varying both in place and manner of articulation are taken into consideration. On the other hand, locus equations are successful in distinguishing place between pharyngealized and non-pharyngealized consonants. Pharyngealized consonants (/bx, dx, sx, tx/) emerged as a totally distinct class, having the flattest locus equation slopes of all consonants.
Assessing Maize and Peanut Yield Simulations with Various Seasonal Climate Data in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Shin D. W. , Baigorria G. A. , Lim Y-K. , Cocke S. , LaRow T. E. , O’Brien James J. , Jones James W. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
A comprehensive evaluation of crop yield simulations with various seasonal climate data is performed to improve the current practice of crop yield projections. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-based historical data are commonly used to predict the upcoming season crop yields over the southeastern United States. In this study, eight different seasonal climate datasets are generated using the combinations of two global models, a regional model, and a statistical downscaling technique. One of the global models and the regional model are run with two different convective schemes. These datasets are linked to maize and peanut dynamic models to assess their impacts on crop yield simulations and are then compared with the ENSO-based approach. Improvement of crop yield simulations with the climate model data is varying, depending on the model configuration and the crop type. Although using the global climate model data directly provides no improvement, the dynamically and statistically downscaled data show increased skill in the crop yield simulations. A statistically downscaled operational seasonal climate model forecast shows statistically significant (at the 5% level) interannual predictability in the peanut yield simulation. Since the yield amount simulated by the dynamical crop model is highly sensitive to wet/dry spell sequences (water stress) during the growing season, fidelity in simulating the precipitation variability is essential.