Phonetic convergence across multiple measures and model talkers.

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Speech Communication
• Phonetics

Background:

• Phonetic convergence research often lacks large sample sizes and varied model talkers.
• Previous studies show inconsistent findings regarding the influence of talker sex and word frequency on phonetic convergence.
• Existing research often fails to examine phonetic convergence across same-sex and mixed-sex pairings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of talker sex, word frequency, and model talkers on phonetic convergence.
• To analyze phonetic convergence using both perceptual and acoustic measures.
• To address inconsistencies in prior research by employing a large-scale study design.

Main Methods:

• A large-scale study involving 92 talkers (47 female) shadowing 12 model talkers (6 female).
• Phonetic convergence was measured using a holistic AXB perceptual-similarity task.
• Acoustic analyses included duration, F0, F1, F2, and the F1 × F2 vowel space.

Main Results:

• Phonetic convergence was found to be subtle, variable, and inconsistent across measures.
• No reliable main effects of talker sex or word frequency were observed.
• Female shadowers demonstrated higher susceptibility to lexical properties compared to males.
• Model talkers influenced the degree of phonetic convergence elicited.

Conclusions:

• Phonetic convergence is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors, including individual speaker characteristics and lexical properties.
• Future research should utilize diverse talkers, balanced stimuli, and holistic measures for robust findings.
• Phonetic convergence plays a role in sound change, highlighting the intricate nature of speech perception and production.