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Article published In:
Spanish in Context
Vol. 19:3 (2022) ► pp.405–431

Impact of elocution task on the measurements of rhythmic patterns in Chilean Spanish

| Universidad de Concepción
| Universidad de Concepción
| Universidad de Concepción
In this paper, we put to the test the validity of the theory of isochrony using data from Chilean Spanish. Spanish has been historically classified as syllable-timed, meaning its basic unit of prosody is the syllable. However, recent studies have shown that different methods of elicitation can have a significant effect on rhythm metrics (i.e., Arvaniti 2012). The present study measured a series of rhythm metrics from samples of 30 native Chilean Spanish speakers producing spontaneous speech and reading aloud. Using MANOVA analyses, the study determined that method of elicitation had a significant effect on the metrics: while spontaneous speech tended to produce values indicative of accent-timed rhythm, reading aloud yielded values which placed them closer to the syllable-timed rhythm category. This study helps to contribute to the notion that speech rhythm is not necessarily determined by language, but rather that there are other relevant factors.
Keywords: Spanish, Chilean Spanish, speech rhythm, theory of isochrony, accent-timed, syllable-timed
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Metrics
    • 2.1Pair-Wise Variability Index
    • 2.2Percentage and standard deviation of the duration of intervals
    • 2.3Variety coefficient
    • 2.4Control Compensatory Index
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Sample and corpus
    • 3.2Signals, annotation and extraction of metrics
    • 3.3Statistical Analyses: MANOVA and post-hoc analysis
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Analysis of CrPVI and VnPVI
    • 4.2Analysis of CCIV and CCIC
    • 4.3Analyses of ΔV, ΔC, and %V
      • 4.3.1ΔC and %V
      • 4.3.2ΔC and ΔV
      • 4.3.3ΔV and %V
    • 4.4Analysis of V% and VarcoC
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Conclusion
  • References
Published online: 28 November 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sic.00082.lar
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