Mumbling: Macho or Morphoogy?

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Mumbling: Macho or Morphoogy?
Language:	English
Authors:	Weirich, Melanie, Fuchs, Susanne, Simpson, Adrian, Winkler, Ralf, Perrier, Pascal
Source:	Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. Dec 2016 59(6):S1587-S1595.
Availability:	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Peer Reviewed:	Y
Page Count:	9
Publication Date:	2016
Document Type:	Journal Articles Speeches/Meeting Papers Reports - Research
Descriptors:	Morphology (Languages), Speech Communication, Articulation (Speech), North American English, German, Anatomy, Males, Gender Differences, Comparative Analysis, Models, Physiology, Vowels, Contrastive Linguistics
DOI:	10.1044/2016_JSLHR-S-15-0040
ISSN:	1092-4388
Abstract:	Purpose: Mumbling as opposed to clear speech is a typical male characteristic in speech and can be the consequence of a small jaw opening. Whereas behavioral reasons have often been offered to explain sex-specific differences with respect to clear speech, the purpose of this study is to investigate a potential anatomical reason for smaller jaw openings in male than in female speakers. Method: Articulatory data from 2 data sets (American English and German) were analyzed with respect to jaw opening in low vowels during speech. Particular focus was placed on sex-specific differences, also incorporating potential interactions with different accent conditions in 1 of the data sets. In addition, a modeling study compared the articulatory consequences of similar jaw-opening settings in a typical male and a typical female articulatory model. Results: Greater jaw openings were found for the female speakers, in particular in the accented condition, where jaw opening was found to be larger. In line with this finding, the modeling study showed that similar jaw-opening settings in male and female speakers led to differences in pharyngeal constriction, resulting in complete radico-pharyngeal closure in the male model. Conclusion: The empirical and modeling findings suggest a possible physiological component in sex-specific differences in speech clarity for low vowels. [Paper presented at the International Seminar on Speech Production (ISSP) (10th, Cologne, Germany, May 5-8, 2014).]
Abstractor:	As Provided
Entry Date:	2016
Accession Number:	EJ1124102
Database:	ERIC

Description
Abstract:	Purpose: Mumbling as opposed to clear speech is a typical male characteristic in speech and can be the consequence of a small jaw opening. Whereas behavioral reasons have often been offered to explain sex-specific differences with respect to clear speech, the purpose of this study is to investigate a potential anatomical reason for smaller jaw openings in male than in female speakers. Method: Articulatory data from 2 data sets (American English and German) were analyzed with respect to jaw opening in low vowels during speech. Particular focus was placed on sex-specific differences, also incorporating potential interactions with different accent conditions in 1 of the data sets. In addition, a modeling study compared the articulatory consequences of similar jaw-opening settings in a typical male and a typical female articulatory model. Results: Greater jaw openings were found for the female speakers, in particular in the accented condition, where jaw opening was found to be larger. In line with this finding, the modeling study showed that similar jaw-opening settings in male and female speakers led to differences in pharyngeal constriction, resulting in complete radico-pharyngeal closure in the male model. Conclusion: The empirical and modeling findings suggest a possible physiological component in sex-specific differences in speech clarity for low vowels. [Paper presented at the International Seminar on Speech Production (ISSP) (10th, Cologne, Germany, May 5-8, 2014).]
ISSN:	1092-4388
DOI:	10.1044/2016_JSLHR-S-15-0040