Singable translations have a long history as a tool to broaden the reach of foreign language music to new audiences. Current translation theory prioritizes the transfer of poetic meaning and structure. I argue that the phonetic sounds of a poem serve a musical function which is, in many cases, intimately bound to a composer’s setting of that poem. I propose that the phonetic properties of a poem are important expressive devices that should be given equal consideration to semantic content. I develop a theory called Expressive Phonetic Mapping to effectively describe and translate phonetic features of musical significance. I apply this theory to selections from Franz Schubert’s Winterreise, analyzing existing translations by Harold Heiberg and Jeremy Sams. Supplementing my arguments with formal analysis, I show how modifications to the type and placement of speech sounds at critical moments can enhance the expressiveness and coherence of these translations, often with minimal change to or loss of semantic information. My thesis culminates in an original singable translation of Hugo Wolf’s “Fussreise,” where I combine Expressive Phonetic Mapping with another method of translation: Peter Low’s “Pentathlon Principle.” I aim to extend existing theories by integrating phonetics into their approaches. That is, considering how the quality of translations can be improved by giving attention to the vocal sounds used, and how those sounds relate to the composer’s underlying music. / Graduate

In articulation treatment and diagnosis, it is essential to possess a thorough knowledge of what is “normal” as well as what is “defective” articulation. The /r/ phoneme is one of the most frequently occurring and most commonly defective sounds. There are two different tongue positions for the /r/ phoneme described in the literature (retroflex and central hump), with many assumptions about which tongue position is “normal” or “most common.” None of these assumptions, however, are based on empirical data. The purpose of this study was to provide some normative data regarding which of the two tongue positions is most common in children who have learned to produce the /r/ phoneme normally with no clinical assistance. Six research questions were posed: (1) Do children produce the /r/ phoneme more commonly with retroflex or central hump tongue position? (2) Are there sex-related differences? (3) Are there differences in tongue position when the /r/ is used as a consonant or vowel? (4) Are there differences in tongue position when the vocalic \r\ is stressed or un-stressed? (5) Are there differences in tongue position relating to the position of the /r/ phoneme within a syllable? (6) Does phonetic context affect the tongue position of the /r/ phoneme?

With commercial availability of non-real and real-time spectrum analyzers, the speech-language pathologist has the means to objectively extract and measure pitch taken from speech samples. Though both types of spectrum analyzers provide the clinician with viable methods of measuring fundamental frequency and frequency range values, pitch extraction using real time allows for greater efficiency in acoustic measurements. The Kay Elemetrics Visi-Pitch is one such real-time spectrum analyzer that is less expensive and more accessible than other real time speech science hardware. The purpose of this study was to investigate the capability of a computerized Visi-Pitch to reflect elevation of fundamental frequency and expansion of frequency range by female adults.

This study focuses on how Middle Chinese zhi and zhao initials are reflected in Modern Mandarin and Wu dialects. Also, the topic of sound change is incorporated based on the results from the study.

In chapter 1 a short exposition of the history of the Tsonga tribes is given. In chapter 2 the reflexes of the different Proto-Bantu sounds in the particular Tsonga dialects are given. Chapter 3 is a short exposition of the grammar of Nkuna, the dialect on which the standard language is based. Chapter 4 The grammar of all the other dialects is compared with that of Nkuna in chapter 4. Chapter 5 a classification of the Tsonga dialects is made. The writer shows that a linguistic classification of dialects based on geographical principles or on the history of the different tribes speaking the dialects is untenable, since no account is taken in such a classification of the present state of the various dialects. A classification of dialects according to isoglosses is also not scientifically correct, because of the subjective judgement of' the investigator in deciding which isoglosses must be regarded as primary and which as secondary. Chapter 6 The writer then makes a classification of the Tsonga dialects into dialect clusters according to principles which he regards to be purely objective and scientific in which all the similarities and differences of the dialects are taken into account without the writer's subjective judge- ment playing a role. Capter 7 According to these principles, the Tsonga dialects of' the Republic of South Africa are divided into the following dialect clusters: Nucleus dialect cluster consisting of the following dialects: Changana of Gija, Changana of Komatipoort, Nkuna, Changana of Bushbuckridge, Gwama, Hlave, N'walungu, N 'walungu of the Vakavaloyi, Changana Mnisi and Changana of Makhuva. (b) Periferal dialect cluster consisting of Konde. (c) Intermediate A dialect cluster consisting of Xiluleke of Makuleke, Xiluleke of Mhinga, and Nhlanganu. (d) Intermediate B dialect cluster consisting of Xonga. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil.

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It is obvious that the effects of speaking rate on the ability of aphasic children to comprehend verbal material has not been extensively researched. The studies cited above suggest that an increase in rate adversely affects comprehension by various subjects, while a decrease in rate may improve comprehension by certain subjects. Therefore, the present study attempted to examine the effects of the rate at which an auditory stimulus is presented to aphasic and normal children.

William Clarke (1976) and Nathan Greenberg (1980) offer an objective framework for the study of alliteration in Latin poetry. However, their definition of alliteration as word initial sound repetition in a verse is inconsistent with the syllabic nature both of the device itself and also of the metrical structure. The present study reconciles this disparity in the first half of the Aeneid by applying a similar method to syllable initial sound repetition. A chi-square test for goodness-of-fit reveals that the distributions of the voiceless obstruents [p], [t], [k], [k^w], [f], and [s] and the sonorants [m], [n], [l], and [r] differ significantly from a Poisson model. These sounds generally occur twice per verse more often than expected, and three or more times per verse less often than expected. This finding is largely consistent with existing observations about Vergil's style (e.g. Clarke, 1976; Greenberg, 1980; Wilkinson, 1963). The regular association of phonetic features with differences in distribution suggests phonetic motivation for the practice.

This study analyzes the production of Voice Onset Time (VOT) of natural Spanish-English bilinguals. VOT is a linguistic characteristic that measures the amount of aspiration occurring after the release of a stop consonant. In terms of VOT, English stop consonants differ substantially from their Spanish equivalents. This study analyzes whether or not natural bilinguals produce VOTs that approximate VOTs of monolingual speakers of each language. Participants completed two surveys to quantify their linguistic dominance in English and Spanish. They were then recorded performing similar speaking tasks in both languages. The conclusions show that natural bilinguals do not produce their English or Spanish VOTs within the monolingual norms defined in previous studies. If conclusions were to be drawn solely from this data, then the participants would theoretically have no monolingual-like language production of VOT. There is also no correlation between language dominance scores and production of VOT. These results support the conclusion that a natural bilingual is not the equivalent of two natural monolingual speakers. Significant correlations exist between VOT production and gender, age of learning English, and amount of time spent watching TV in each language. Another interesting conclusion is that many of the participants score more Spanish-dominant when a survey is given in Spanish and more English-dominant when the very same survey is given in English. This shows that even the language of a survey may skew responses slightly.

Данное диссертационное исследование посвящено формированию фонетических навыков у китайских студентов, начинающих изучать русский язык. Работы выполнена в русле актуальных проблем в области методики обучения русскому языку как иностранному (РКИ). В рамках работы был выполнен сравнительно-сопоставительный анализ фонетических систем русского и китайского языков и выявлены основные сходства и различия, а также были определены наиболее сложные звуки русского языка для китайских учащихся. На основании исследований методистов, были рассмотрены наиболее распространенные ошибки носителей китайского языка и выявлены причины их возникновения. Структура работы состоит из двух глав: теоретической и практической. В теоретической части рассматриваются специфические черты фонетических систем русского и китайского языков, артикуляционные базы обоих языков, различия в области вокализма и консонантизма. В результате практической работы с китайскими студентами в УрФУ были определены фонетические звуки и процессы, нуждающиеся в коррекции и закреплении. На основании теоретической главы в практической части настоящего исследования разработан модуль «Фонетика русского языка для китайских студентов начального уровня», что обуславливает обозначенную цель исследования. This dissertation research is devoted to the formation of phonetic skills in Chinese students who begin to learn Russian. / The work is carried out in line with the current problems in the field of methods of teaching Russian as a foreign language (RCT). In the framework of the work was done comparative analysis of the phonetic systems of Russian and Chinese languages and identified key similarities and differences, and identified the most difficult sounds of the Russian language for Chinese students. Based on the research of methodologists, the most common mistakes of Chinese speakers were considered and the causes of their occurrence were identified. The structure of the work consists of two chapters: theoretical and practical. The theoretical part considers the specific features of the phonetic systems of the Russian and Chinese languages, articulation bases of both languages, the differences in the field of vocalism and consonantism. As a result of practical work with Chinese students in Urfu phonetic sounds and processes in need of correction and consolidation were identified. On the basis of the theoretical Chapter in the practical part of this study, the module "Phonetics of the Russian language for Chinese students of primary level" was developed, which determines the designated purpose of the study.