A phonetic study of Zootopia characters’ voices in Brazilian Portuguese dubbing: the role of stereotypes

ABSTRACT This work comprises an experimental investigation approach of expressive speech that integrates methodological procedures of perceptual and acoustic analyses. As the object of this work, we have focused on voice quality and vocal dynamics. Speech samples from the four main personality-distinct characters in the animated feature film “Zootopia” dubbed by Brazilian voice actors have been analysed. Due to the expressive function of voice quality, we have posed the following question: what types of voice quality and vocal dynamics settings were used by the voice actors in the Brazilian dubbing of “Zootopia” to compose the vocal profiles of the characters? Perceptual evaluation of the 54 speech stimuli was performed using the Vocal Profile Analysis protocol (Laver & Mackenzie Beck, 2007). Acoustic measures were automatically extracted using the ExpressionEvaluator script (Barbosa, 2008) for PRAAT. The profiles for each of the four characters were composed based on the psychological traits described in the film script. The results of the acoustic analysis, the perceptual analysis of voice quality and vocal dynamics settings were correlated using the MFA (Multiple Factor Analysis) method in the R environment based on 40 variables (quantitative and qualitative) and it turned out that the speech stimuli were distributed in 6 clusters according to the variables analysed. The quantitative variables that presented the highest correlation percentage were: Standard Deviation of f0 Derivative, Standard Deviation of Spectral Tilt, f0 Median. The qualitative variables that presented the highest correlation percentage were: Lowered Larynx, Lip Rounding, Breathy Voice and Minimised Pitch Range. The research has presented evidence in favor of the symbolic use of phonic matter and contributions to the understanding of how vocal stereotypes are established.

摘要 本研究采用实验探究方法开展表达性语音研究，整合了语音感知与声学分析的方法论流程。本研究的核心对象聚焦于语音音质与发声动态。研究分析了动画长片《疯狂动物城》（Zootopia）中四位性格鲜明的主角由巴西配音演员配音的语音样本。鉴于语音音质具备表达性功能，本研究提出如下问题：巴西配音团队为《疯狂动物城》（Zootopia）配音时，采用了哪些类型的语音音质与发声动态设置，以塑造各角色的发声特征？本研究采用发声轮廓分析（Vocal Profile Analysis）规程（Laver & Mackenzie Beck, 2007）对54条语音刺激样本开展感知评估；借助针对PRAAT平台的ExpressionEvaluator脚本（Barbosa, 2008）自动提取声学特征参数。四位角色的发声轮廓均依据电影剧本中设定的心理特质进行构建。本研究在R语言环境中，基于40项（定量与定性）变量，采用多因素分析（Multiple Factor Analysis, MFA）方法对声学分析结果、语音音质感知分析结果以及发声动态设置开展相关性分析，结果显示，语音刺激样本可根据所分析的变量被划分为6个聚类。相关性占比最高的定量变量包括：基频（f0）导数标准差、频谱倾斜度标准差、基频中位数。相关性占比最高的定性变量包括：喉部压低、唇部圆化、气息声以及最小化音高范围。本研究为语音材质的符号性使用提供了实证依据，同时有助于理解发声刻板印象的形成机制。