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Prominence lent by rising and falling pitch movements: Testing two models
1Institute for Perception Research/IPO, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|August 1, 1996
Summary
This study tested a pitch-level difference (PLD) model for speech prominence. Findings suggest that while pitch differences influence prominence, lower pitch levels may contribute less than higher ones.
Area of Science:
- Phonetics
- Speech Perception
- Acoustic Phonetics
Background:
- The pitch-level difference (PLD) model posits that perceived speech prominence correlates with pitch differences between syllables.
- Previous research established the PLD model's foundational principles for prominence perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To further test the validity of the PLD model for speech prominence perception.
- To investigate the influence of temporal modifications and varying pitch contours on prominence perception.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted to assess the PLD model's predictions.
- Experiment I evaluated the impact of time stretching and compression on prominence perception.
- Experiment II tested an alternative model focusing on pitch contour declination lines.
Main Results:
- Experiment I revealed that temporal modifications partially deviated from the PLD model's predictions.
- Results from Experiment II indicated that prominence perception was influenced by both upper and lower pitch declination lines.
- The data suggested a nuanced role for low pitch levels in prominence perception, potentially lesser than high pitch levels.
Conclusions:
- The original PLD model requires refinement, as temporal stretching/compression affects prominence perception.
- Pitch contour characteristics, particularly declination lines, play a significant role in perceived prominence.
- Low pitch levels appear to have a diminished impact on prominence compared to high pitch levels, suggesting a non-linear relationship.