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Communicative functions integrate segments in prosodies and prosodies in segments
1Institute of Phonetics and Digital Speech Processing, University of Kiel, Germany. kjk@ipds.uni- kiel.de
This study reveals that speech segments and prosody dynamically influence each other in conveying semantic meaning. Integrating segment and prosody analysis offers a more holistic view of phonetic communication.
Area of Science:
- Phonetics
- Linguistics
- Speech Communication
Background:
- Traditional linguistic analysis often separates speech sounds (segments) from prosody.
- This compartmentalization may limit understanding of holistic speech communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interdependence of fundamental frequency (f0) contours and fricative spectral characteristics.
- To explore how segments and prosody jointly encode semantic functions in German speech.
Main Methods:
- A German perception experiment using the Semantic Differential technique.
- Analysis of the interplay between f0 contours and spectral features of fricative segments.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a clear interdependence between f0 contours and the spectral characteristics of following fricatives.
- Showed that both segments and prosody are shaped by and shape each other in coding semantic functions.
Conclusions:
- Speech segments and prosody are not independent but co-dependent in conveying meaning.
- Future phonetic research should analyze speech within broader prosodic time windows, integrating segmental and prosodic information.
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