Different languages, different voices: evidence from Portuguese/English bilinguals' speech

Abstract Voice quality results from the modulation of vocal tract articulators and laryngeal activity and produces a long-term effect in speech production and perception. Bilingual speakers can alter voice quality when speaking different languages, according to evidence shown in research in the field. The present study shows results from a voice production experiment in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and English (EN) by Brazilian bilingual speakers. The experiment consisted of the recordings of reading and semi-spontaneous tasks in BP and EN. Results show statistically significant differences between languages in f0 measures, as well as in spectral characteristics (LTAS) between languages and tasks.

摘要 语音音质源于声道构音器官与喉部活动的调控，并对言语产生与感知产生长期影响。该领域已有研究证据表明，双语使用者在使用不同语言时可改变自身语音音质。本研究呈现了巴西双语使用者分别使用巴西葡萄牙语（Brazilian Portuguese, BP）与英语（English, EN）开展的语音产生实验的结果。本次实验包含受试者使用两种目标语言完成朗读任务及半自发任务的录音采集。研究结果显示，不同语言在基频（f0）测量指标上存在统计学意义上的显著差异，同时不同语言与任务类型间的频谱特征（长期平均频谱，Long-Term Average Spectrum, LTAS）亦存在显著差异。