<p> Cochlear implants (CIs), although effective in restoring auditory sensation for deaf individuals, are lacking in fundamental frequency (F0 or pitch) and temporal fine structure information. Consequently, many aspects of speech perception are significantly compromised. It is reasonable then to suspect that with limited access to F0 and fine temporal structure of speech, the ability to produce intonation patterns by children with cochlear implants (CWCI) would be affected as well. Therefore, perceptual and acoustic analyses were conducted in order to examine production of intonation patterns by CWCI to signal yes/no question and statement contrasts as compared to an age matched control group of children with normal hearing (CWNH). Fourteen CWCI participated in the study, ranging in age from 3;7 to 7;5 years; and 14 CWNH were between the ages of 3;4 &ndash; 7;4 years. Statements and questions were elicited using an innovative methodology during a role-play session and were digitally recorded. The elicited productions were parsed, separate files were created for each utterance, and then utterances were randomly presented to a group of 10 normal hearing adult listeners via headphones. Listeners rated the intonation pattern of each production as ranging from falling to rising using a visual analog scale displayed on a computer screen. These represented the listener judgments data and analysis. For the acoustic analysis, the final two syllables of each utterance were identified and the beginning and end of each vocalic portion of the syllable (VPS) was marked using Praat software Version 5.3.51 (Boersma and Weenink, 2013). Mean F0) and intensity measures of the VPS were extracted. The results from the listener judgments task revealed that CWCI and CWNH could distinctively produce rising and falling intonation contrasts to signal a question or a statement. Results from the acoustic analyses suggested a systematic distinction in F0, and to a lesser extent, in intensity, between statements and questions. Examination of the relation between acoustic characteristics and adult listener perceived judgments of intonation revealed large, significant relationships between listener judgments and final syllable F0 as well as F0 and intensity changes between the final and penultimate syllables. Future research directions and clinical implications for evaluation and intervention of prosody are discussed.</p>

Interaural time (ITD) and level differences (ILD) are susceptible to distortion by multipath acoustics due to reverberation, echoes, and potentially with open-fit, behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids, which pose an additional delay between acoustic and processed sound (~2-5ms). Here, ten young, normal hearing listeners localized broadband and narrowband (500, 4000, 500+4000 Hz) noise. Listeners were fit with linear amplification and evaluated in three aided conditions: unaided, open-fit, and occluded BTE coupling. Sounds were presented from 64 loudspeakers covering 360º azimuth in an anechoic chamber. Twenty-three target locations were evaluated, spanning ±61º. Sounds were presented in three virtual acoustic environments: anechoic, single virtual wall, and simulated 10m X 10m room. The virtual wall was 80% reflective (α=0.2) and oriented parallel to the listenerâs forward gaze, at a distance of 5m to the right. The room condition simulated four virtual walls (α=0.5), 5m to the left and right, 6.67m in front, and 3.33m behind the listening position. Performance was assessed across conditions by measuring localization gain (slope), localization variance, localization error, and front-back confusion rate. Results showed greater variability in the simulated room than anechoic conditions, particularly for aided conditions (occluded > open > unaided). Aided listening compressed localization gain at 4000 Hz and expanded gain at 500 Hz. Errors were generally reduced when 500 and 4000 Hz were played simultaneously. Additionally, in-ear acoustic recordings of broadband noise were made in all aided and room conditions. Binaural cross-correlation and intensity-difference calculation were used to estimate frequency-specific ITD and ILD, respectively, from the recordings. Consistent with previous research, ITD became erratic and ILD diminished in simulated rooms compared to anechoic. Effects of hearing aid venting were less noticeable. Finally, results were quantified in the form of binaural-cue weighting (ITD/ILD âtrading ratioâ) on the basis of measured interaural cue values extracted from in-ear recordings obtained for each listener and condition.

This thesis argues that, in addition to the concept of the Illocutionary use of sentences to perform speech acts, there is an aspect of language use that has been, for the most part, overlooked in the literature. We call this aspect Non-Illocutionary Use, and offer in the thesis a theory of such use. We argue that Non-Illocutionary Use does not replace a theory of meaning, but rather that it shows more clearly where a theory of meaning fits in an overall description of language. As a result, the concept of meaning takes on a somewhat diminished role. Moreover, we show that meaning can be best thought of as simply the "content" aspect of Non-Illocutionary use. The concept of Non-Illocutionary Use is argued to be descriptively relevant at four levels: at the lexical, the phrasal, the clausal and the sentential levels. At the sentential level, it augments rather than conflicts with the notion of Illocutionary Use. In order to adequately describe the Non-Illocutionary Use of expressions in a language, we find it necessary to employ nine distinct parameters of such use: these are collectively labeled the Specifications of Non-Illocutionary Use. These nine Specifications are systematized in our theory by means of four Representation Formats, corresponding to the four syntactic levels mentioned above. These Formats serve as the input and the output for a set of compositional rules and a set of contextual strategies which relate the various levels of Non-Illocutionary Use. Thus, we claim that the Non-Illocutionary Use of a complex expression can, with the aid of contextual features in some instances, be determined from the Non-Illocutionary Uses of its constituent parts. Our theory thus is a contribution to an understanding of the infinite scope of language. In addition, we offer a Taxonomy of Non-Illocutionary Uses, as well as a definition of such use. Finally, aspects of other approaches to language use are discussed briefly.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Actors and singers mainly use their voices as theatrical communication instruments. The production of sound - for singing, speech and other derivatives - makes use of the same physiological mechanics. This indicates that the anatomical components are applicable to all of the the above mentioned. The goal of exploring the anatomy and physiology of the voice mechanics is to enhance the artist's and the theoretic's awareness of the dynamic process. Even though it does not replace technical training in voice production, it is still of cardinal importance. By being in possession of a worthy knowledge of the voice and body as an instrument of unity, singers and actors can challenge their instruments to the maximum. In this way professional vocal artists can finally come into contact with their humanness to create a mature character on stage. The correct body posture, breathing methods, resonance and articulation play an important role in ensuring good projection. Successful projection and resonance can only take place if the whole of the sound production instrument is working in a physiologically correct manner. Research has been done on the leading theater theorists' expectations of the regarding voice production. It was specifically their opinions that initiated the modern approach to sound production in terms of speech and singing in the modern theatre. A sound production experiment, focusing on the challenge of the human voice, was staged as a theatre production, and was analysed. The presentation was predominantly based on the ideas of the directors. These ideas were discussed in the previous chapter. This study explores the phsyiological mechanism that produces sound to promote the creative commerce with sound. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Akteurs en sangers gebruik hoofsaaklik hulle stemme as 'n teatrale kommunikasie-instrument. Die produksie van klank - vir sang, spraak en ander geluide - spruit uit dieselfde fisiologiese meganika. Dit dui daarop dat dieselfde anatomiese komponent vir bogenoemde van toepassing is. Die verkenning van die anatomie en fisiologie van die stem-meganika het ten doel om die kunstenaar en teoretikus se bewustheid van die dinamiese proses uit te brei. Hoewel dit geensins die tegniese opleiding in stemgebruik vervang nie, is dit steeds van kardinale belang. Deur oor'n waardige kennis van die stem en liggaam as eenheids-instrument vir die teaterkunstenaar te beskik, kan sangers en akteurs hul instrumente tot die uiterstes uitdaag. Op hierdie manier kom 'n professionele stemgebruiker uiteindelik in aanraking met sy/haar potensiaal en kan sodoende 'n volwaardige karakter op die verhoog skep word. Die korrekte liggaamshouding, asemhalingsmetode, resonansie en artikulasie speel 'n kardinale rol in goeie projeksie. Suksesvolle projeksie en resonansie kan slegs geskied indien die hele klankproduksie-instrument op 'n natuurwetmatige wyse in werking is. Daar is ook navorsing gedoen oor die toonaangewende teaterteoretici se verwagtinge t.o.v. stemproduksie. Dit was juis hierdie persone se opinies wat die huidige aanwending van klankproduksie in terme van spraak en sang in die moderne teater geïnisieer het. 'n Klankproduksie-eksperiment (wat gefokus is op die uitdaging van die menslike stem) is in die vorm van 'n teaterproduksie gedoen waarin die uitgangspunte van die regisseurs wat in die vorige hoofstuk bespreek is, prakties ondersoek is. Die juiste doel van hierdie studie is dus om 'n ondersoek te loods na die fisiologiese meganisme wat klankproduksie by die menslike stem tot gevolg het, en uiteindelik die kreatiewe omgang met klank in terme van die spraaken die verwante sangstem te promoveer.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Computer Science / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

SPEECH ETHICS IN THE HEBREW PSALTER Samuel Onchonga Asuma, Ph.D. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2012 Chairperson: Duane A. Garrett This dissertation examines the use of speech terminology in the Hebrew Psalter in order to find out why the terminology is used frequently and what it teaches about speech ethics. Also, it seeks to determine the Psalter's contribution to the study of Old Testament ethics in general. Chapter 1 discusses the problem, purpose, thesis, and the methodology of the study. Chapter 2 briefly looks at the history of the study of Old Testament ethics during the modern era beginning from the nineteenth century to the present, paying special attention to how it developed into an independent discipline and the key issues that have dominated scholarly discussion along with the underlying philosophical ideas that inform that discussion. Chapter 3 examines the occurrence of speech terminology outside the Hebrew Psalter, using select passages from the Pentateuch, prophetic and wisdom literature in order to determine what these passages teach about the proper use of speech. Chapter 4 discusses briefly whether or not the Psalter contains ethical instruction. In answering the question, it takes into consideration the approaches taken by pre-critical interpreters and form and canonical critics. Chapter 5 examines the use of speech terminology in the Hebrew Psalter with the aim of finding out why it is used frequently and what the Psalter teaches about speech ethics. Chapter 6 summarizes the findings of the study and proposes an answer to the question as to why the Psalter has more references to the use of speech than any other book in the Old Testament. It suggests the contribution the Psalter makes to the study of Old Testament ethics. Finally, proposals are made regarding areas for further research. This work contends that speech terminology features prominently in the Psalter not only because the Psalter places strong emphasis on truthful speech but also because speech is used by the wicked as a weapon of oppression. The powerful members of society devise evil schemes and put them into effect using false accusation, false testimony, false oaths, slander, and humiliation against the weak. Since the weak do not have any human being or institution to protect them, they appeal for justice from God as the righteous king and judge. / This dissertation is under embargo until 2014-12-14.

This thesis describes a model of speech timing, predicting at the syllable level, with sensitivity to rhythmic factors at the foot level, that predicts segmental durations by a process of accommodation into the higher-level timing framework. The model is based on analyses of two large databases of British English speech; one illustrating the range of prosodic variation in the language, the other illustrating segmental duration characteristics in various phonetic environments. Designed for a speech synthesis application, the model also has relevance to linguistic and phonetic theory, and shows that phonological specification of prosodic variation is independent of the phonetic realisation of segmental duration. It also shows, using normalisation of phone-specific timing characteristics, that lengthening of segments within the syllable is of three kinds: prominence-related, applying more to onset segments; boundary-related, applying more to coda segments; and rhythm/rate-related, being more uniform across all component segments. In this model, durations are first predicted at the level of the syllable from consideration of the number of component segments, the nature of the rhyme, and the three types of lengthening. The segmental durations are then constrained to sum to this value by determining an appropriate uniform quantile of their individual distributions. Segmental distributions define the range of likely durations each might show under a given set of conditions; their parameters are predicted from broad-class features of place and manner of articulation, factored for position in the syllable, clustering, stress, and finality. Two parameters determine the segmental duration . pdfs, assuming a Gamma distribution, and one parameter determines the quantile within that pdf to predict the duration of any segment in a given prosodic context. In experimental tests, each level produced durations that closely fitted the data of four speakers of British English, and showed performance rates higher than a comparable model predicting exclusively at the level of the segment.

This dissertation examines how age affects the ability to produce intelligibility- enhancing speaking style adaptations in response to environment-related difficulties (noise-adapted speech) and in response to listeners’ perceptual difficulties (clear speech). Materials consisted of conversational and clear speech sentences produced in quiet and in response to noise by children (11-13 years), young adults (18-29 years), and older adults (60-84 years). Acoustic measures of global, segmental, and voice characteristics were obtained. Young adult listeners participated in word-recognition-in-noise and perceived age tasks. The study also examined relative talker intelligibility as well as the relationship between the acoustic measurements and intelligibility results. Several age-related differences in speaking style adaptation strategies were found. Children increased mean F0 and F1 more than adults in response to noise, and exhibited greater changes to voice quality when producing clear speech (increased HNR, decreased shimmer). Older adults lengthened pause duration more in clear speech compared to younger talkers. Word recognition in noise results revealed no age-related differences in the intelligibility of conversational speech. Noise-adapted and clear speech modifications increased intelligibility for all talker groups. However, the acoustic changes implemented by children when producing noise-adapted and clear speech were less efficient in enhancing intelligibility compared to the young adult talkers. Children were also less intelligible than older adults for speech produced in quiet. Results confirmed that the talkers formed 3 perceptually-distinct age groups. Correlation analyses revealed that relative talker intelligibility was consistent for conversational and clear speech in quiet. However, relative talker intelligibility was found to be more variable with the inclusion of additional speaking style adaptations. 1-3 kHz energy, speaking rate, vowel and pause durations all emerged as significant acoustic-phonetic predictors of intelligibility. This is the first study to investigate how clear speech and noise-adapted speech benefits interact with each other across multiple talker groups. The findings enhance our understanding of intelligibility variation across the lifespan and have implications for a number of applied realms, from audiologic rehabilitation to speech synthesis. / text

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