Psychoacoustic roughness as a measure of glottalization in consonants

2020 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13162
• Research Institution: The University of Aizu
• Principal Investigator: Perkins Jeremy 会津大学, コンピュータ理工学部, 上級准教授 (30725635)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: electroglottography / EGG / creaky phonation / Thai / tone

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In 2020, the recorded data of 20 Thai language speakers was processed via automatic routines to extract data from the sound files. Research assistants were hired to run the first stage of the data extraction, labeling sounds via Praat. This first phase was completed in July 2020. The sound files themselves required modification during a second processing stage because the acoustic recordings were taken simultaneously on separate machines, misaligning them in time. The second phase was completed in March 2021.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

The key reason for the delays is the inability to travel outside Japan. Phase two of this grant involves collecting recorded data from Korean speakers, and requires the principal investigator to travel to South Korea. I intend to do this once COVID-19 related restrictions on travel are lifted.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

As mentioned, once it's possible, I will travel to South Korea to record Korean speakers to initiate phase 2 of the study. This will involve recruiting a research assistant who can help recruit speakers (at Seoul National University likely) and can assist in the running of the recording sessions. The assistant will speak the language natively and will be someone introduced by a colleague of mine who works in Korean phonology and has many contacts there. Phase one of the research will also be completed: The results of the study on Thai consonants will be presented at a conference and published in a journal in FY 2021.

Causes of Carryover

Due to the inability to travel outside Japan, it was necessary to extend the grant one more year. The funds required to pay for the principal investigator's travel costs and the funds required to pay research assistants in the collection and processing of the data will be carried over to FY2021. The PI will stay in Seoul for one week, so funds necessary for an air ticket, lodging and local travel costs are needed. In addition hourly wages will be paid to research assistants for their work. A facilitator will be paid in South Korea to help recruit, schedule and run the recording sessions. Assistants in Japan will be paid for data processing work as well.