|
|
Glottalization in the combination with non-syllabic prepositions in the Czech speech of Russian speakers
Tolkunova, Yana ; Veroňková, Jitka (advisor) ; Confortiová, Helena (referee)
Glottalization, as significant irregularity of glottal pulsing, fulfils a number of linguistic functions and can occur in various contexts. This paper examines the rate of vowel-related glottalization of non-syllabic prepositions when native Russian speakers read Czech speech. In Czech, just like in other languages there is a relatively high frequency of glottalization. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that could influence it. The speakers produced a short read text which contained 59 potential neslabičné prepositions where glottalization could occur in standard pronunciation. The basic set of the perceptual analysis and statistical processing consisted of 582 items. The rate of glottalization in individual speakers ranged from 0 % to 90 % , where the average volume is regulary based at 49 %. Statistical significance of differences in the frequency of the analyzed groups created on the basis of monitored aspects were calculated using the chi-square test.
|
|
|
Temporal characteristics of tone units in the speech of professional speakers
Hrachová, Jana ; Veroňková, Jitka (advisor) ; Palková, Zdena (referee)
This thesis deals with temporal characteristics of tone units in read speeches of professional speakers. The main goal of the research is to follow variability of the articulation rate (AR) within tone units. Thus, the domain where we investigate AR is the tone unit and we also deal with the general articulation rate. Read narrations in Czech in wildlife documentaries represented the studied material. To verify the statistical significance, we used the linear mixed effects model and the ANOVA test. The results of the measurement of the general average articulation rate within the narrations showed that the values of one speaker were significantly different from those of the other speakers. Interpersonal variability was also proved by the ANOVA tests and intrapersonal variability was also evidenced. The average AR values with regard to linear segmentation proved to be relatively uniform. Statistical verifications did not prove any statistical significance either. In our analyses of tone units, we investigated whether AR was influenced by the size of tone units in prosodic words, further by the position of the prosodic word in the tone unit, and what were the directions of AR changes inside the unit. Statistical tests were used to verify the significance of the impact of the tone unit size as well as...
|
|
|
Listener's attitudes towards speakers with speech impairments
Brušáková, Lenka ; Volín, Jan (advisor) ; Veroňková, Jitka (referee)
The thesis is an overview of current approaches to the issue of listeners attitudes towards speakers based on the characteristics of their speech, with regard to the methodology and to the types of monitored attributes of speech. The existing research results and methodological approaches are evaluated with specific attention given to speech defects in Czech language. A review of survey data was conducted that addressed the attitudes of Czech listeners towards Czech speakers with speech defects, specifically with sigmatism. For this purpose, records of 8 speakers with sigmatism selected from the Prague Phonetic Corpus were used. These records were modified in a manner that corresponds to the methods of Matched guise technique. Afterwards a perception test and a questionnaire were compiled in order to investigate the real attitudes of the Czech listeners toward selected Czech speakers, respectively their speech impairments. The test was presented to homogeneous group of 42 respondents. The results suggest a significant link between sigmatism and the negative attitudes of listeners towards speakers, especially the perception of their social status. The overall result of this thesis is the description of the target area (see the title of the paper) the has led to the formulation of hypotheses for...
|
|
|
Speech rate and realization of pauses in consecutive interpreting into Czech in comparison with original Czech speeches
Rubovičová, Carmen ; Veroňková, Jitka (advisor) ; Bořil, Tomáš (referee)
This diploma thesis examines speech rate in three different speech styles - in reading, prepared semi-spontaneous monologue and consecutive interpreting from English into Czech. In the first part of the thesis we summarize previous research, define several types of speech rate, pauses and all three speech styles. In the second part, dedicated to empirical research, we first describe the material and speakers, and then we continue with information about recording and processing of the recordings, mainly the two ways of segmentation into inter-pause units. The results are summarized in three sub-chapters; one looks at speaking rate, the next deals with articulation rate and the last one is dedicated to pauses. The last subchapter in the Results chapter compares our findings with both Czech and foreign research into the topic. Altogether we analysed recordings of four female speakers (two students and two prefessional interpreters) in three speech styles. In each of the styles we calculated speaking rate of the whole text, speaking rate of four linear parts (introduction, main part 1, main part 2 and conclusion) and articulation rate of one chosen unit from each linear part. Our results suggest that the highest speaking rate and articulation rate are in reading; semi-spontaneous speech is somewhat...
|
|
|
Personal characteristics of speech rhythm in Russian newsreading
Čížková, Irena ; Volín, Jan (advisor) ; Veroňková, Jitka (referee)
Personal characteristics of speech rhythm in Russian newsreading Bc. Irena Čížková Abstract An issue of individual rhythmic characteristics of particular 5 native speakers of the Russian language, newsreaders from the BBC, is described in this thesis. A research of the given 5 speech recordings was conducted based on the academic concepts created by Ramus, Mehler and Nespor, and by Low and Grabe and also by Dellwo, so through a speech rhythm research based on rhythm correlates that are related to vocalic and intervocalic intervals. The recordings were processed in an analyting program called Praat and the extracted results were then evaluated in a statistical processor called STATISTICA. These materials were used for further analysis. The recordings were analysed based on several parameters: %V (proportion of vocalic intervals in one breath group), ∆C and ∆V (standard deviation of the vocalic and consonantal interval duration), PVI-V, PVI-C (Pairwise Variability Index of the vocalic and consonantal interval duration), Varco V and Varco C (variation coefficient of the vocalic and consonantal interval duration) and the difference between duration of stressed and unstressed vowels. Three parameters that were the most successful from the speakers' ability to differentiate point of view were selected through an...
|
|
|
Static and dynamic characteristics of the linguopalatal contact of the Czech /ř/
Pavlíková, Miriam ; Skarnitzl, Radek (advisor) ; Veroňková, Jitka (referee)
An unique Czech fricative thrill - /ř/ - was studied mainly by Dr. Hála and Dr. Chlumský in the first half of the twentieth century. The methods employed were rather simple and the experiments were done on limited sample size. We decided to revisit and extend the results with electropalatography (EPG). Four female and three men participated in the experiments that were based on reading aloud voiced and voiceless /ř/ in various contexts. We dedicated a short part to dynamic characteristics of /ř/ and focused predominantly on the area of linguopalatal contact. We described the points of linguopalatal contact during /ř/ with adjusted anteriority index (CA). The possible factors affecting the CA are discussed. We scrutinized the differences in CA depending on selected factors for the whole group and each participant. The data suggest that thrill /ř/ occurs in the alveolar area. Anteriority index was chiefly dependent on voicing /ř/, type of the read material and also differed among various speakers.
|
|
|
The Phonetics of Advertising in Terms of Perception Assessment
Göttlichová, Marcela ; Bořek - Dohalská, Marie (advisor) ; Veroňková, Jitka (referee) ; Bartošek, Jaroslav (referee)
v anglickém jazyce Abstract The theoretical part of the dissertation thesis dealing with the "Phonetics of Advertising in terms of Perception Assessment" studies literature sources focusing on spoken utterances, namely on language elements of various Czech pronunciation styles and characterizes both radio as a medium and basic principles of the theory and practical aspects of radio advertising. It outlines the grounds for description of phonetic aspects at both segmental and suprasegmental level. It provides basic features describing phonetic characteristics of the Czech language in light of its orthoepic standard. Based on the results of a quantitative survey and namely the perception tests, the goal of the paper is to show potential applicability of phonetics in marketing communications, specifically concerning the variability of the verbal part of commercials reflecting different products and target consumer groups, i.e. to show the potential the Czech language is offering at present and ways of making the most of this potential in radio advertising.
|
|
|
Pronunciation of two distinct "i" Vowels in the East Lach dialect
Blažková, Jana ; Veroňková, Jitka (referee) ; Palková, Zdena (advisor)
The vowel inventory of standard Czech includes five short vowels /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ and five long vowels /a:/, /e:/, /i:/, /o:/, /u:/. Nevertheless, the dialectological literature indicates two distinct /i/ vowels, /i/ and /y/, in all the groups of the Lach dialects. The contrast of these two phonemes has a historical origin and has already disappeared in most of Czech and Moravian dialects. The objective of the diploma thesis "Pronunciation of Two Distinct /i/ vowels in the East Lach Dialect" is to witness the present state of the production and perception of two /i/ vowels in the East Lach dialect. Former dialectological texts still indicate the opposition as conserved, though considering the general recession of Czech dialects, the diploma thesis aims to verify if the East Lach dialect still distinguishes the /i/ and /y/ vowel and if this should prove to be the case, to determine the acoustic features that assure its perception. The research was based on minimal pairs and syllables, where the /i/ vowels were preceded by different consonants. The minimal pairs and syllables were inserted in text which was read by the speakers and recorded. Within the framework of the diploma thesis, 30 senior speakers of the East Lach dialect were recorded. Afterwards, six speakers were chosen to feature in two...
|
|
|
Differences in the basic pitch relevant to the perceptual distinction of melodemes in English
Veroňková, Jitka ; Palková, Zdenka (advisor) ; Krčmová, Marie (referee) ; Janota, Přemysl (referee)
As in the case of many other languages, the intonation fulfils certain linguistic functions in Czech. It distinguishes conclusive vs. non-conclusive clauses, declarative vs. interrogative clauses and neutral vs. marked usage clauses. In the case of declarative and interrogative clauses, the intonation is the single distinguishing feature. Structures of the basic patterns to express these linguistic functions were standardized and in general accepted, but not enough is known about their particular realizations. In general, these structure types are realized in the final stress unit of the utterance. It has been confirmed that the intonation courses of some functionally diverse contours are similar and there exist overlaps among them. The perceptual differences between contours can be caused only by the size of F0 excursions. Our research focuses on finding minimal distinctions in F0 excursions which are sufficient to distinguish phonologically different types of sentences. Some structure types can be fully realized on the at least three-syllable stress units, that is why these were chosen to be analysed. The research is based both on synthetic speech and natural one. Two sets of synthetic contours, first containg three-syllable stress units and the second the four-syllable ones, that cover the structure...
|
|
|
Differences in the basic pitch relevant to the perceptual distinction of melodemes in English
Veroňková, Jitka ; Palková, Zdenka (advisor) ; Krčmová, Marie (referee)
As in the case of many other languages, the intonation fulfils certain linguistic functions in Czech. It distinguishes conclusive vs. non-conclusive clauses, declarative vs. interrogative clauses and neutral vs. marked usage clauses. In the case of declarative and interrogative clauses, the intonation is the single distinguishing feature. Structures of the basic patterns to express these linguistic functions were standardized and in general accepted, but not enough is known about their particular realizations. In general, these structure types are realized in the final stress unit of the utterance. It has been confirmed that the intonation courses of some functionally diverse contours are similar and there exist overlaps among them. The perceptual differences between contours can be caused only by the size of F0 excursions. Our research focuses on finding minimal distinctions in F0 excursions which are sufficient to distinguish phonologically different types of sentences. Some structure types can be fully realized on the at least three-syllable stress units, that is why these were chosen to be analysed. The research is based both on synthetic speech and natural one. Two sets of synthetic contours, first containg three-syllable stress units and the second the four-syllable ones, that cover the structure...
|
guest ::
