Anita Kruckenberg

Acoustic-phonetic Analysis of Prominence in Swedish

The purpose of our contribution is to introduce subjectively scaled prominence as a reference for studies of the realisation of prosodic events, applicable to the relative weight of syllables and words as well as to the perceived distinctiveness of junctures and other grouping phenomena. The prominence scaling fulfils the need of a descriptive level interfacing prosodic phonological categories and acoustic correlates which allows the establishment of quantified relations between continuously scaled acoustic attributes and continuously scaled response categories. An example is to study how the prominence of a syllable increases with increments of each of a number of relevant acoustic parameters. This tool accordingly adds to the evaluation of prosodie features and has obvious applications in speech synthesis. (1997) have adopted the scaling method of (1989) in the development of a prominence-based synthesis system. Some suggestions for prominence based synthesis-by- rule of Swedish appear in a recent report by (1998).

Prosodic and segmental speaker variations

Abstract The purpose of our presentation is to make an inventory of knowledge developed at the KTH about speaker variabilities including findings from our more recent databank projects on text reading. We shall have something to say about male/female differences, voice source characteristics, and about prosodic and segmental features in connected speech. We also have some data of more general statistical nature such as pause durations, long time average spectrum, and about relative proportions of voiced and voiceless segments in speech.

On the quantal nature of speech timing

This is a review of regularities which we have observed in the analysis of text reading, mostly Swedish, directed to the timing of vowels and consonants, syllables, inter-stress intervals and pauses. We have found tendencies of quantal aspects of temporal structure, superimposed on more gradual variations, which add quasi-rhythmical elements to speech. A local average of inter-stress intervals of the order of 0.5 sec. appears to function as a reference quantum for the planning of pause durations. A recent study, confirming our previous findings of multiple peaks with about 0.5 sec. spacing in histograms of pause durations, provides support for this model. It is well established that pause durations tend to increase with increasing syntactic level of boundaries. However, these variations tend to be quantally scaled, even within a specific boundary category, e.g. between sentences or between paragraphs. Relatively short pauses, as between phrases or clauses, show durations in complementary relation to terminal lengthening. There are indications of approximately 1, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 ratios of the average durations of inter-stress intervals, stressed syllables, unstressed syllables and phoneme segments, which add to the observed regularities. The timing of syllables and phonetic segments, with due regard to relative distinctiveness and reading speed, is discussed, and also tempo variations within a sentence.

The Source-Filter Frame of Prominence

One aim of our study is to discuss some of the relations of prosodic parameters to the speech production process, e.g. how speech intensity is related to the vocal tract filter and the voice source and the underlying aerodynamics. A specific problem of phonetic interest is the role of subglottal pressure and fundamental frequency as intensity determinants and their covariation in speech. Our speech analysis displays, incorporating perceptually scaled syllable prominence, are suitable for multilevel studies of speech parameters. A new intensity parameter, SPLH, related to sonority is introduced. In combination with the standard sound pressure level it provides information on the voice source spectral slope. In Swedish, high long stressed vowels approach a semi-closed target, and thus a sonority minimum, which suggests a motor component in prominence perception.

Voice source properties of the speech code

A challenge for speech research and technology is to advance the knowledge‐based approach. A neglected aspect of the speech code is the dynamics of the voice source and how it integrates in an overall production model. In the past, research into the human voice source has mostly been concerned with individual voice qualities. Knowledge of segmentally and prosodically induced variations and of waveform finestructure is now developing but the picture is still incomplete. An elaborated model of speech production integrating supraglottal, glottal, and laryngeal articulations and pulmonary activity is needed. The status of the art with a preliminary overview of contextual and prosodic factors that influence the voice source within a sentence frame will be discussed. One important factor is the degree of articulatory emphasis and thus of VT–source interaction as found in hypo‐ versus hyperspeech. Novel data obtained in Stockholm on subglottal pressure variations measured directly through a tracheal puncturing p...

Publications Björn Lindblom

Lindblom, B.; Murray, T.; Spens, K.-E.: Övningsmaterial i akustisk fonetik. PILUS 1 (Institute of Linguistics, Stockholm University, 1969). Jonasson, J.; Lindblom, B.; Serpa-Leitão, A.: Spektrografiska illustrationer av några IPA-tecken. PILUS 5 (Institute of Linguistic, Stockholm University, 1970). Lindblom, B.: Vad är fonetik? (Gleerup, Lund 1972). Lindblom, B.: På väg till laboratoriet (Gleerup, Lund 1974). Lindblom, B.; Lubker, J.; Fritzell, B. (eds): Experimentalfonetiska studier av dysartri. PILUS 27 (Institute of Linguistics, Stockholm University, 1974). Lindblom, B.; Nordström, P.-E. (eds): Fonetik och uttalspedagogik. Papers from a symposium (Institute of Linguistics, Stockholm University, 1975). Lindblom, B.; Lubker, J. (eds): Experiments in speech perception. PERILUS I (Institute of Linguistics, Stockholm University, 1979). Lindblom, B.; Öhman, S. (eds): Frontiers of speech communication research (Academic Press, London 1979). Grillner, S.; Lindblom, B.; Lubker, J.; Person, A. (eds): Speech motor control (Pergamon Press, Oxford 1982). Lindblom, B. (ed): Speech processes in the light of action theory and event perception, theme issue with open peer commentary. J. Phonet. 14: 1–196 (1986). Lindblom, B.; Zetterström, R. (eds): Precursors of early speech (Macmillan Press, Basingstoke 1986).

Some timing studies of prose, poetry and music

Abstract Prosodic relations in prose, poetry and music are discussed with an emphasis on durational properties. In order to gain a deeper understanding of speech prosody, we are presently engaged in a comparison of the timing relations in such activities as the reading of poetry and music performance, where there usually is a strong and obvious rhythmic patterning of the produced sound sequences. Also there are interesting parallels to be drawn by comparing the formal notations of prose, poetry and music. Generally, there are no simple relations between abstract notations and performance, and moreover, notations have varied with tradition and particular needs. However, it is a challenge to tie descriptive systems closer to common human constraints in production and perception.

Data-Bank Analysis of Speech Prosody

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analysis procedures and results from studies of speech prosody and individual variations in text reading. The chapter aims at deriving rules for good reading performance and rules related to voice types, sex, age, and reading style. This chapter discusses segmentation problems and provides data on objective and subjective studies of syllabic stress, speech rhythm, and the realization of phrase and sentence boundaries. This chapter explains a provisional phonemic transcription and segmentation, which conforms to the letter-to-sound rules of the RULSYS synthesis. Phonemes may be so weakly manifested and be subjected to such extreme temporal spread that signal-driven segmentation strategies fail.