The human voice may convey meaningful information about socially and evolutionarily relevant characteristics of the vocalizer. In turn, listeners may readily evaluate personal characteristics, such as body size, on the basis of nonverbal voice features. Research investigating vocal communication of physical size in humans has focused on two salient and largely independent voice features, fundamental frequency and/or corresponding harmonics (perceived as voice pitch) and formant frequencies (resonance frequencies of the supralaryngeal vocal tract). However, the degree to which fundamental and formant frequencies reliably predict variation in body size controlling for sex and age, and their relative role in the perception or accurate estimation of body size, has to date been unclear. In the current thesis, using meta-analysis, I establish that formants reliably predict variation in men’s and women’s heights and weights. In contrast, fundamental frequency only weakly predicts men’s heights and women’s weights. These findings corroborate work on many other mammals whose vocal production, like humans, follows the source-filter model. Despite the lack of a robust physical relationship between fundamental frequency and size within sexes, I further demonstrate that listeners utilize voice pitch to accurately gauge men’s relative height. My research suggests that voice pitch indirectly facilitates accurate size assessment by providing a carrier signal (i.e., dense harmonics) for formants. This is the first evidence that pitch does not confound accurate size estimation. Finally, I demonstrate that voices with lowered pitch, but not raised pitch, are perceived as larger when projected from a low than high spatial location. These results suggest that strong cross-modal perceptual biases linking low pitch to low elevation and large size may, in some contexts, cause errors in size estimation. Taken together, this thesis provides a detailed account of human vocal communication of body size, which can play a meaningful role in sexual and social contexts. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This research seeks to explore the concept of voice design, specifically voice design for non-human characters that do not communicate using words. The idea was to mimic the vocal contours of human non-verbal vocal expression with a synthesizer to achieve emotional clarity, as well as make it sound less like a machine and more like a fleshed-out character. The background investigates how humans can communicate emotions with non-verbal vocal expressions along with principles for sound design for Human-Robot interaction and methods for voice design/processing in film.  This to build an idea on how to proceed when designing a non-verbal character voice. A listening test was conducted where participants would rate valence and energy levels in emotional utterances made by humans and emotional utterances that had been created using a synthesizer. As well as provide insight on what type of character could be creating the sounds made with the synthesizer. The results suggest that although the synthesized sounds lacked emotional clarity, they were still enough to give the participants an idea of a character.

This thesis deals with providing feedback in Czech lessons as a second language in a distance environment. Using a descriptive analysis of the transcripts of four video recordings of Czech for foreigners, we focused our attention on the places where teachers provided feedback to students. The aim of this work was to find out what means teachers use for this. We were also interested in whether the online environment had any effect on the provision of feedback. A questionnaire was developed to assess teachers' views on providing feedback. Key words: Feedback, Czech as a foreign language, distance learning, online teaching, audiovisual context, nonverbal communication, e-learning.

Diese kumulative Dissertation umfasst zwei Veröffentlichungen zu drei Bereichen der Emotionskommunikation. Ziel war es, zu untersuchen, ob OP-Masken die Emotionswahrnehmung, die Affiliation und die emotionale Mimikry (d.h. die automatische, aber zielabhängige Imitation des emotionalen Ausdrucks von Interaktionspartner:innen) reduzieren. In zwei Online-Experimenten (Studie 1: N=200, britische Stichprobe; Studie 2: N=235, deutsche Stichprobe) wurden subjektive Bewertungen und die emotionale Mimikry als Reaktion auf maskierte und unmaskierte Gesichter untersucht. Die wahrgenommene Emotionsintensität und die Genauigkeit der Emotionserkennung dienten als Indikatoren für die Emotionswahrnehmung. Die wahrgenommene zwischenmenschliche Nähe diente als Indikator für die Affiliation. Die emotionale Mimikry wurde mit Hilfe einer Gesichtsaktivitätserkennungstechnologie gemessen. In der ersten Studie sahen erwachsene Proband:innen erwachsene Zielpersonen, die Freude und Trauer ausdrückten, eingebettet in Innen- und Außenszenen. In der zweiten Studie sahen erwachsene Proband:innen Erwachsene und Kinder, die Freude, Trauer oder Ärger ausdrückten. Die Freudemimikry wurde durch Masken reduziert, insbesondere wenn die Zielpersonen Kinder waren. Im Gegensatz dazu war die Trauermimikry bei Kindergesichtern stärker und wurde, wie auch die Ärgermimikry, durch Masken nicht beeinträchtigt. Wir konnten auch zeigen, dass durch Gesichtsmasken verringerte Freudewahrnehmung und Nähe mit einer verringerten Freudemimikry verbunden waren. Die Studien zeigen somit, wie erwartet wurde, eine maskenbedingte Verringerung der Emotionswahrnehmung, der Affiliation, und der emotionalen Mimikry. Insgesamt trägt die vorliegende Arbeit zu unserem Verständnis der sozio-affektiven Auswirkungen der partiellen Gesichtsverdeckung bei und stützt die Theorie der emotionalen Mimikry im sozialen Kontext von Hess und Fischer, nach der Emotionswahrnehmung und Affiliation die emotionale Mimikry beeinflussen. / This cumulative doctoral dissertation encompasses two publications on three domains of emotion communication. The goal of the dissertation was to assess if surgical face masks reduce emotion perception, affiliation, and emotional mimicry (i.e., automatic but goal-dependent imitation of an interaction partner's emotional display). We conducted two online experiments (Study 1: N=200, U.K. sample; Study 2: N=235, German sample) that assessed subjective ratings and emotional mimicry in response to masked and unmasked faces. Perceived emotion intensity and emotion recognition accuracy served as indicators of emotion perception. Perceived interpersonal closeness (via the Inclusion of Other in the Self Scale) served as an indicator of affiliation. Emotional mimicry was measured using facial activity recognition technology. We also took into account socio-spatial context effects. In the first study, adult perceivers saw adult targets who expressed happiness and sadness embedded into indoor and outdoor scenes. In the second study, adult perceivers saw adult and child targets who expressed happiness, sadness, and anger. We found that happiness mimicry was reduced by masks, particularly when expressers were children. In contrast, sadness mimicry was stronger for children and, like anger mimicry, unaffected by masks. We also found that reduced emotion perception and closeness due to masks were associated with reduced happiness mimicry. The studies support evidence from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic for mask-related reductions of emotion perception and affiliation. Moreover, the studies provide unprecedented evidence on reductions of emotional mimicry in response to masked faces and child targets. Overall, the present work contributes to our understanding of the socio-affective effects of partial face occlusion and supports emotional mimicry in social context theory by Hess and Fischer, according to which emotion perception and affiliation influence emotional mimicry.

Many of the sources indicated in this work are classical and not updated due to the fact that the origins of Gestalt Philosophy are found in classical works / Verskeie van die geraadpleegde bronne in die literatuurhoofstukke verteenwoordig klassieke werke wat nie binne die erkende periode vir relevante wetenskaplike navorsing val nie. Die oorsprong van die Gestalt Filosofie wat in hierdie studie benut is, word in hierdie klassieke werke gevind en is ook in hierdie werke geraadpleeg / The Gestalt approach was used as the contextual framework to explore how music can be used as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. Music as a sensory experience was used during the therapeutic process with each case study, to facilitate the child's process towards healing. The conceptual framework of music as a therapeutic medium was researched in depth to bring clarity to the influence it has on the emotional well-being of the child. The child who entered into therapy was selected according to specific criteria, with the experience of emotional trauma being priority. The researcher also studied the concept of emotional trauma in depth and the consequences it has on a child's overall functional ability. Music was used as an expressive technique during the therapeutic process with each child. The conclusion drawn from this study indicated that the gestalt approach can be applied effectively in using music as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. / Die Gestalt benadering is gebruik in hierdie navorsing ten einde 'n kontekstuele raamwerk daar te stel waarbinne musiek as terapeutiese medium in die behandeling van emosionele trauma in kinders gebruik kon word. Musiek kan beskryf word as 'n sensoriese ervaring. Hierdie sensoriese ervaring is binne die terapeutiese proses toegepas ten einde die kind se herstelproses te fasiliteer. Die studie is binne die navorsingskonteks van gevallestudieprosedures gedoen. Musiek is binne die konseptuele raamwerk bestudeer en nagevors ten einde die terapeutiese waarde daarvan in diepte te ondersoek. Hierdie in-diepte ondersoek het aan die navorser 'n duidelike beeld gegee hoe dit toegepas kon word in terapie. Deur dit toe te pas in terapie is die invloed van musiek op die emosionele welsyn van die getraumatiseerde kind gedokumenteer. Die navorsingskriteria vir insluiting in die ondersoek was gegrond op die literatuurondersoek en het onder meer die belewing van trauma ingesluit. Die belewing van emosionele trauma en invloed op die kind se geheelfunksionering was dus 'n verdere eenheid van ontleding en is in diepte deur die navorser bestudeer. Musiek is dus gebruik as 'n ekspressiewe tegniek tydens die terapeutiese proses met elke gevallestudie. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe in hierdie studie gekom kon word is dat musiek binne die konteks van die gestalt benadering suksesvol in die hantering van emosionele trauma by die kind gebruik kan word. / Practical Theology / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Current practice in language teaching based on communicative approaches emphasizes the development of language skills. Opportunities are created for students to develop their language skills through social interaction based on pair and group work. Such interaction requires the use of interpersonal skills. If students do not feel confident about their interpersonal skills, they may be reluctant to take part in communicative activities, which require social interaction. Interpersonal skills are also important if students are to use their language skills in real life situations effectively and confidently. Gender and cultural differences related to interpersonal communication may have an impact on how successful students learn a foreign language. The study explores student confidence in interpersonal skills, the role that gender may play in interpersonal relationships, and also in fostering cultural activities that are aimed at the development of interpersonal communication. Such relationships have potential implications on the teaching of a foreign language in the classroom situation. This research was conducted at a Japanese university where the researcher is a lecturer and had full access to all the resources he needed. The same research was also conducted at Chinese, Russian, and Ghanaian universities, as well as at an international school in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using questionnaires. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the problem, and to probe the issues involved more extensively. Quantitative data was collected by means of a questionnaire that consisted of multiple-choice questions. Qualitative data was gathered by means of open-ended questions. Questionnaire results were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The research findings indicate that some students may lack confidence in social situations where the use of interpersonal skills is neglected. This research also found that females may be more comfortable and adept in interpersonal exchanges owing to some biological and cultural reasons. Findings also indicate that cultural differences that impact on interpersonal communication situations did not entirely support the findings from the literature review, particularly concerning the use of nonverbal communication by Japanese students. Recommendations based on research findings, are given concerning the development of interpersonal skills. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics and Curriculum Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Apartheid is verby. Die nuwe Suid-Afrika het gekom. Maar met die koms van die nuwe Suid-Afrika het die oue nie verdwyn nie. Die oue van die apartheidsverlede is nog met ons. Ons is die erfgename van apartheid en dra die letsels van apartheid nog saam met ons. Armoede, werkloosheid, behuisingsnood en geweld en misdaad is deel van die post-apartheid samelewing en kan nie weggewens word nie. Die kerk is geroep om die evangelie in die samelewing aan alle mense te kommunikeer. In hierdie kommunikasie moet die evangelie in 'n post-apartheid samelewing gesien en ervaar kan word in dade van diens. Daarom staan dade van diens in hierdie studie sentraal. Hierdie studie handel dus oor die diens van gelowiges wat 'n kommunikasievoertuig is van die evangelie in 'n post-apartheid samelewing. Vanuit die nood en behoeftes van mense in die post-apartheid samelewing is twee dade van diens geidentifiseer wat sentraal staan in die kommunikasie van die evangelie. Dit is bemagtiging en versoening. Omdat 'n groot dee! van die samelewing in die verlede geen mag op ekonomiese en politieke terreine gehad het nie, is dade van diens wat mense bemagtig noodsaaklik. In hierdie bemagtiging speel ekonomiese-, sosiale- en psigologiese bemagtiging 'n groot rol. En omdat mense deur die verlede van apartheid op grond van velkleur van mekaar geskei en geisoleer is, vra dit dat mense met mekaar versoen word. In die proses om versoening tussen mense te bewerkstellig speel verantwoordelikheid, erkenning van apartheidskuld, restitusie, regstellende aksie, die luister na mense se stories en vergifnis 'n baie belangrike rol. Vanuit 'n geloofsperspektief is die <liens van die gelowige in 'n post-apartheid samelewing in verband gebring met Jesus Christus se di ens wat Hy as voorbeeld voorgehou het vir al sy navolgers. Omdat gelowiges navolgers is van Christus is alle gelowiges die subjekte van diens aan mense in die samelewing. Vir hierdie diens in die samelewing word die gelowige in die geloofsgemeenskap (of gemeente) deur gemeenskap (koinonia) opgebou en deur die geestelike leiers toegerus om diensbaar aan mense in die samelewing te wees. / Apartheid is a thing of the past. The new South Africa has dawned. But that does not mean that the "old" South Africa has disappeared. The "old" South Africa is still present. We are the inheritors of apartheid and have to live with the scars of apartheid. Poverty, joblessness, a shortage of housing and violence and crime are an integral part of the post-apartheid society and cannot be wished away. The church is called upon to communicate the gospel to all people in society. In a post-apartheid society it is important that in this process of communication, the gospel is seen and experienced in deeds of service. Deeds of service are thus central in this study. This study entails service of believers as communication vehicles of the gospel in a post-apartheid society. Derived from the needs of people in the post-apartheid society two deeds of service are identified which are essential in the communication of the gospel. These are empowerment and reconciliation. A large part of the society previously had no power on the economical and political fronts - therefore deeds of service that cultivate empowerment are essential. In this process economic, social and psychological empowerment plays an important role. And because people were separated and isolated on the ground of skin colour, people need to be reconciliated. In the process of establishing reconciliation among people, it has to be recognised that responsibility, confession of guilt, restitution, affirmative action, listening to people's stories and forgiveness have an important role. From a Christian perspective the service of the believer in a post-apartheid society is orientated to the service of Jesus Christ. His service serves as an example to all his followers. Because believers are followers of Christ, they are all his instruments of service. For this service believers are edified in their local churches by community (koinonia) and equipped by the spiritual leaders to be of service to people in the society. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Praktiese Teologie)

With this study, the researcher wants to establish whether investigators are able to effectively interpret, report on, or pay cognisance to body language during interviews, and whether they are sufficiently trained therein. Knowledge of body language can provide the interviewer with vital clues during the interview process. Regardless of the availability of numerous literatures on nonverbal behaviour in interviewing, the application of this knowledge is lacking among investigators. An empirical research design and a qualitative research approach were used for this research. National and international literature sources were consulted, and the researcher conducted interviews with two experts, knowledgeable investigators and semi-structured interviews with detectives from the East London South African Police Service (SAPS) and forensic investigators from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in East London. The importance of the skill of interpreting body language during forensic interviewing was established. Evidently, many investigators do not apply their knowledge and skill to enhance the outcomes of a forensic interview. / Criminology and Security Science / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)

Fatores associados com falhas na cobertura da vacinação contra o sarampo na cidade de São Paulo foram estudados por meio de entrevistas com pais ou responsáveis por 122 crianças de até cinco anos. Observou-se que a população conhece a doença e identifica a vacina com a idéia de proteção, mas não cumpre o calendário de vacinação e atrasa as doses da vacina contra o sarampo. Idade, região de origem ou de residência, status familiar ou nível educacional não mostraram associação com o cumprimento do calendário obrigatório (uma dose da vacina contra o sarampo deve ser aplicada dos 9 aos 11 meses e a segunda, aos 15 meses). A televisão é o meio de comunicação que mais informa os entrevistados sobre as Campanhas Nacionais de Multivacinação e o cartão de vacinação foi identificado como uma das vias de comunicação utilizadas para informar sobre a vacinação fora das Campanhas, na rotina. No entanto, nenhum meio de comunicação identificado no estudo pôde, significativamente, promover a mudança de comportamento da indife rença para o compromisso com o cumprimento do calendário, ou seja, adesão. A única variável significativamente relacionada com o atraso na vacinação, de até 20 dias, foi o sentimento de dó de aplicar injeções nas crianças (p = 0,08). Crianças brasileiras têm de visitar o posto de saúde para receber, até cinco anos de idade, 19 vacinas, 12 até o primeiro ano. O estudo deixa claro que não há adesão ao calendário proposto para vacinação contra o sarampo, apesar de ser esta a proposição das Campanhas Nacionais de Multivacinação e da vacinação de rotina / Risk factors associated with failure to receive measles vaccine were studied in eight districts of São Paulo city, Brazil. Parents or carers of 122 children were interviewed about their perception and understanding about the disease anda about measles vaccination, a kind of knowledge that can be acquired through vaccination communication campaigns or from personal communication (from the doctors, nurses of the health care center or friends). Population description factors were also identified. Results analysis shows that neither age, region of origin or residence, marital status nor educational level were related to taking or not taking measles vaccines adequately. Most of the people remembered about having being informed about the last annual vaccination campaign by television, but no communication channel was significantly associated with vaccination status. Answers to questions about knowing the disease or not or knowing the vaccine or not, when analysed alone, did not show any association with taking measles vaccines at the time indicated by health agencies. However, the results showed that when parents felt pity for their children receiving shots, they delayed the vaccination for at least 20 days. Since families visit the health center at least seven times before children complete five years of age and since most of the children does not take the measles vaccine in the exactly recommended day, but delay or anticipate the shots, it is clear that there is no compliance to the recommended government\'s measles vaccination schedule (first dose at 9 and second at 15 months of age), although this is the message that annual communication campaigns and interpersonal communication try to pass

Many of the sources indicated in this work are classical and not updated due to the fact that the origins of Gestalt Philosophy are found in classical works / Verskeie van die geraadpleegde bronne in die literatuurhoofstukke verteenwoordig klassieke werke wat nie binne die erkende periode vir relevante wetenskaplike navorsing val nie. Die oorsprong van die Gestalt Filosofie wat in hierdie studie benut is, word in hierdie klassieke werke gevind en is ook in hierdie werke geraadpleeg / The Gestalt approach was used as the contextual framework to explore how music can be used as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. Music as a sensory experience was used during the therapeutic process with each case study, to facilitate the child's process towards healing. The conceptual framework of music as a therapeutic medium was researched in depth to bring clarity to the influence it has on the emotional well-being of the child. The child who entered into therapy was selected according to specific criteria, with the experience of emotional trauma being priority. The researcher also studied the concept of emotional trauma in depth and the consequences it has on a child's overall functional ability. Music was used as an expressive technique during the therapeutic process with each child. The conclusion drawn from this study indicated that the gestalt approach can be applied effectively in using music as a therapeutic medium in the treatment of the emotionally traumatized child. / Die Gestalt benadering is gebruik in hierdie navorsing ten einde 'n kontekstuele raamwerk daar te stel waarbinne musiek as terapeutiese medium in die behandeling van emosionele trauma in kinders gebruik kon word. Musiek kan beskryf word as 'n sensoriese ervaring. Hierdie sensoriese ervaring is binne die terapeutiese proses toegepas ten einde die kind se herstelproses te fasiliteer. Die studie is binne die navorsingskonteks van gevallestudieprosedures gedoen. Musiek is binne die konseptuele raamwerk bestudeer en nagevors ten einde die terapeutiese waarde daarvan in diepte te ondersoek. Hierdie in-diepte ondersoek het aan die navorser 'n duidelike beeld gegee hoe dit toegepas kon word in terapie. Deur dit toe te pas in terapie is die invloed van musiek op die emosionele welsyn van die getraumatiseerde kind gedokumenteer. Die navorsingskriteria vir insluiting in die ondersoek was gegrond op die literatuurondersoek en het onder meer die belewing van trauma ingesluit. Die belewing van emosionele trauma en invloed op die kind se geheelfunksionering was dus 'n verdere eenheid van ontleding en is in diepte deur die navorser bestudeer. Musiek is dus gebruik as 'n ekspressiewe tegniek tydens die terapeutiese proses met elke gevallestudie. Die gevolgtrekking waartoe in hierdie studie gekom kon word is dat musiek binne die konteks van die gestalt benadering suksesvol in die hantering van emosionele trauma by die kind gebruik kan word. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)