From Phonetica 2009;66:29-45 DOI: 10.1159/000208929

Rhythm in Speech and LanguageA New Research Paradigm

Klaus J. KohlerIPDS, Kiel

Online supplement with audio illustrations and graphs

(available at: www.karger.com/pho)

3 rhythmic units in g092a021 of Kiel Corpus of Sp Sp grouping by F0 and energy, beat on eigentlich

trifft sich doch eigentlich recht [] gut Slide 1

Grouping of tone sequences by loudness, timing, F0

Fig. adapted from

Handel 1989, p. 387

STIMULUS PERCEPT

Slide 2

Sequences of ba syllables: single events, trochaic and dactylic groupings by F0

Slide 3

Sequences of ba syllables: single events, iambic and anapaestic groupings by F0

Slide 4

Sequences of ba syllables: single events, trochaic and iambic groupings by syllabic duration, flat F0

Slide 5

Sequences of ba syllables: single events, trochaic and iambic groupings by syllabic energy, flat F0

Slide 6

Sequences of bi and ba syllables: grouping by spectral patterns in identical F0 and duration and similar

energy

Slide 7

Construction of rhythm in sequences of identical acoustic stimuli

Psychoacoustic experiments with sine wavesperceived as series of single pulses or as trochaic/iambic/dactylic/ anapaestic rhythmic structures, if the listener wants to hear them

[from Handel, 1989, p. 387]

Psychophonetic experiments with ba syllablessame perceptual groupings onlevel pitchfalling pitchbut rising-falling pitch Slide 8

Ex 1: good rhythmicity: IViE c-rea1-m1

clear regular rhythmical beats

salient groupings by pitch bracketing

Ex 2: mediocre rhythmicity: IViE c-rea1a-f6

no clear regular beats

groupings by pitch bracketing not salient

English examples of good/mediocre rhythmicity

Slide 9

Ex 1: good rhythmicity: Kiel Corpus k20nord1

clear regular rhythmical beats

salient groupings by pitch bracketing

Ex 2: mediocre rhythmicity: Kiel Corpus k71nord1

no clear regular beats

groupings by pitch bracketing not salient

German examples of good/mediocre rhythmicity

Slide 10

Rhythm in German and French nursery rhymes

German Der 'Herr der 'schickt den 'Jockel 'aus, er 'soll den 'Hafer 'schneiden.Der 'Jockel 'schneidt den 'Hafer 'nichtund 'kommt auch 'nicht nach 'Haus.

FrenchLe bon roi DagobertAvait sa culotte à l’envers.Le grand saint Eloi lui dit:“O mon roi, Votre MajestéEst mal culotté.”“C’est vrai, lui dit le roi,Je vais la remettre à l’endroit.” Slide 11