2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Investigating the extent to which speech rater judgement relates to objective speech measures
| Project/Area Number |
19K00931
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| Research Institution | Hiroshima Shudo University |
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Principal Investigator |
Philip Head 広島修道大学, 商学部, 講師 (30801998)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
山根 典子 広島大学, 総合科学研究科, 准教授 (70319391)
CLENTON JONATHAN 広島大学, 総合科学研究科, 准教授 (80762434)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Speech Comprehensibility / Speech Ratings / Listener backgrounds / Gender / Vocabulary / Phonology |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
We recorded voice samples from 18 Japanese and 26 non-Japanese subjects. We had 33 raters (10 Japanese students, 13 Japanese English teachers, and 10 Native English Teachers) listen to the recordings and evaluate them according to fluency, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. We analyzed these ratings using linear mixed effects modelling and found rater Japanese L1 was associated with significantly lower rating scores in all categories. Male raters also had significantly lower ratings for pronunciation. We presented this data at the 2019 New Directions Conference in Yokohama.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
We were able to complete the initial recording of samples and analysis ratings by Japan-based raters in the summer and present our initial findings at the New Directions 2019 conference in Yokohama. Using feedback at the conference we were able to refine our experiment design, record additional samples, and proceed with the Canada-based rater data collection ahead of schedule. Due to COVID-19, we moved the rating materials and collection process online to make it easier for raters to do the ratings at their own pace and without having to travel physically. We hope that this will make the recruitment of raters go much more smoothly in the future.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We are currently recruiting 100 additional raters in Japan and Canada (Japanese L1 students and teachers, English L1 students and teachers, and other L1 students and teachers). We hope to have all the data collected this year and then to proceed with the analysis and presentations at international conferences next year.
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| Causes of Carryover |
This will be used to pay research participants, research assistants, and expenses related to presentations at conferences.
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