Tag: Speech and Sound—Can you Hear Me?

Acoustic Sources of Accent in Second Language Japanese Speech

Presenter(s): Hayli Brown—Linguistics, Japanese

Faculty Mentor(s): Kaori Idemaru

Session 1: Speech and Sound—Can you Hear Me?

This study extends previous findings on the perception of pitch accent in Japanese second language speech (L2) and further analyzes its effect on the word level in isolation . Previous research revealed that pitch accent is the strongest acoustic factor that affects how accented a speaker sounds
when speaking Japanese as an L2 . Analyzing this effect at the word level will inform us on where this accentedness is heaviest in a phrase . Japanese speech samples were collected from 20 American English speakers (10 speakers in both second and third year groups) studying Japanese . The L2 participants provided speech samples of 18 words both with and without a native speaker model . Pitch patterns 0 (LHH), 1 (HLL), and 3 (LHL) were examined in words that had three morae— units of time, which are given separate pitch accents to create a tonal pattern in Japanese . Native Japanese listeners (10 participants) rated the samples with regard to degrees of foreign accent . Words with Type 0 and Type 2 pitch accents were rated the highest for having a perceived foreign accent . Perceived foreign accentedness was also rated higher for the second year group of Japanese learners . Further research should be conducted to ascertain the exact acoustic or phonological motivations for these results, but the difference between English and Japanese intonation patterns is considered as one motivation in this study . With more research, the findings of this study may provide useful tools for better pronunciation teaching methods with the goal of achieving native-like fluency .

Demographic Influences on Perception of Singular They/Them Pronouns

Presenter(s): Danni Black—Linguistics

Co-Presenter(s): Mel Birke, Lydia Murtha, Sam Montagne

Faculty Mentor(s): Melissa Baese-Berk

Session 1: Speech and Sound—Can you Hear Me?

A society does not just have one characteristic, it has many . Not only that, but those traits often influence and alter one another . While this is known and observable for traditional relations, such as gender and race, it is not as established for concepts that are later introduced into a society rather than initially integrated . Such is the case for the pronouns of they/them in American society . In order to determine how one’s previous societal roles and beliefs affect their perception and acceptance/ rejection of the pronouns of “they/them” and alternative gender identities in general in a linguistic state . To do this, we plan to submit a digital survey to students and staff of as many kinds as we can gain access to at the University of Oregon . In this survey we will include cultural identifiers such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community, and more . Then we will observe that data to determine if there is a statistical significance among our subjects between one of those traits and their perception of “they/them” pronouns . Additionally, there is an option on the survey where subjects can express their desire to participate in an interview to elaborate on their views and the development of those views . This interview will be conducted remotely and respectfully, and will provide us with a more in-depth explanation and conclusion of the research being conducted .

The role of financial rewards in foreign accent perception

Presenter(s): Chasen Afghani—Linguistics

Faculty Mentor(s): Melissa Baese-Berk, Glen Waddell

Session 1: Speech and Sound—Can you Hear Me?

Native speakers often have challenges understanding non-native speech . Previous studies have shown that both cognitive and social factors affect perception of non-native speech by native speakers . It has also been demonstrated that native listeners can improve at this task over time . In the current study we ask how financial rewards affect adaptation to non-native speech . Two subject groups were asked to transcribe unfamiliar, non-native accented speech stimuli . The control group was asked to transcribe the speech as accurately as possible . The experimental group was given similar instructions, with an additional note that they will receive monetary compensation corresponding to the accuracy of their transcriptions . Here, we examine accuracy and learning over the course of the experiment . We hypothesize that the experimental group will start the study with a higher level of accuracy, will have a steeper learning curve throughout the study, and will demonstrate greater accuracy at the end of the experiment . This work will add to a growing body of evidence that a variety of factors impact listeners’ ability to understand unfamiliar accented speech, and that these factors also impact adaptation over time .