Javascript must be enabled to continue!
Exploring macro-rhythm in African American English
View through CrossRef
This study contributes to a growing body of research on quantifying the theory of macro-rhythm, a model of prosodic typology proposed by Sun-Ah Jun (2014) that looks at the global pitch patterns of an utterance, through comparing African American English (AAE) to Mainstream (white) US English (MUSE). Based on prior research on intonation, rhythm, and prosody in AAE (cf. Thomas, 2015 for a thorough overview), we predicted that AAE would have stronger macro-rhythm than MUSE, such that speakers would produce higher peaks and lower valleys, pitch excursions of greater magnitude, have a greater consistency in slope, a greater frequency of high (H) and low (L) pitch targets, and more regular spacing of these pitch targets. Data weretaken from the Valdosta group of the Corpus of Regional African American Language (CORAAL) for Black speakers and the Buckeye corpus for white speakers. Contrary to our expectations, Buckeye speakers proved to be more macro-rhythmic than their CORAAL counterparts in all but one metric, but these results confirm that macro-rhythm is a viable method for cross-dialectal analysis as it reveals quantifiable differences between speaker dialect groups of the same language.
Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
Title: Exploring macro-rhythm in African American English
Description:
This study contributes to a growing body of research on quantifying the theory of macro-rhythm, a model of prosodic typology proposed by Sun-Ah Jun (2014) that looks at the global pitch patterns of an utterance, through comparing African American English (AAE) to Mainstream (white) US English (MUSE).
Based on prior research on intonation, rhythm, and prosody in AAE (cf.
Thomas, 2015 for a thorough overview), we predicted that AAE would have stronger macro-rhythm than MUSE, such that speakers would produce higher peaks and lower valleys, pitch excursions of greater magnitude, have a greater consistency in slope, a greater frequency of high (H) and low (L) pitch targets, and more regular spacing of these pitch targets.
Data weretaken from the Valdosta group of the Corpus of Regional African American Language (CORAAL) for Black speakers and the Buckeye corpus for white speakers.
Contrary to our expectations, Buckeye speakers proved to be more macro-rhythmic than their CORAAL counterparts in all but one metric, but these results confirm that macro-rhythm is a viable method for cross-dialectal analysis as it reveals quantifiable differences between speaker dialect groups of the same language.
Related Results
Random curds as mathematical models of fractal rhythm in architecture
Random curds as mathematical models of fractal rhythm in architecture
The author Carl Bovill has suggested and described a method for generating
rhythm in architecture with the help of random curds, as they are the
mathematical models of unpred...
Andries Bongcn (ca. 1732-1792) en de Franse invloed op de Amsterdamse kastenmakerij in de tweede helft van de achttiende eeuw
Andries Bongcn (ca. 1732-1792) en de Franse invloed op de Amsterdamse kastenmakerij in de tweede helft van de achttiende eeuw
AbstractAs was the case with silversmiths (Note 3), many more cabinet-makers were wcrking in Amsterdam during the second half of the 18th century than in any other city in the Dutc...
HANS ABRAHAMSEN AND A RECURRENT ‘CHILDLIKE’ RHYTHM
HANS ABRAHAMSEN AND A RECURRENT ‘CHILDLIKE’ RHYTHM
AbstractHans Abrahamsen has reused the same rhythm across four pieces spanning 33 years: in his Ten Studies, for solo piano, and Six Pieces, for horn trio (both from 1984), in Schn...
An analysis of the cases of teenagers dying in taverns in South Africa: Some Biblical and African considerations
An analysis of the cases of teenagers dying in taverns in South Africa: Some Biblical and African considerations
According to the Holy Scriptures, parents must care, teach, and guide their children to lead a Godly life. Comparably, the African traditional religion expects parents to do so too...
An analysis of the cases of teenagers dying in taverns in South Africa: Some Biblical and African considerations
An analysis of the cases of teenagers dying in taverns in South Africa: Some Biblical and African considerations
According to the Holy Scriptures, parents must care, teach, and guide their children to lead a Godly life. Comparably, the African traditional religion expects parents to do so too...
INTERNATIONALIZATION OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERS THROUGH THE ENGLISH ACCULTURATION STRATEGY
INTERNATIONALIZATION OF ISLAMIC EDUCATION INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERS THROUGH THE ENGLISH ACCULTURATION STRATEGY
Purpose of the study: To explore the effectiveness of the English-speaking acculturation strategy in improving the English ability of school members so that they can internationali...
Racing Away from Race: The Literary Aesthetics of Islam and Gender in Mohammed Naseehu Ali’s The Prophet of Zongo Street and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s The Whispering Trees
Racing Away from Race: The Literary Aesthetics of Islam and Gender in Mohammed Naseehu Ali’s The Prophet of Zongo Street and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim’s The Whispering Trees
Some literary discussions on Islam in West Africa argue that African Muslims owe allegiance more to Arab race and culture since the religion has an Arab origin while owing less to ...
“Why Race Still Matters”
“Why Race Still Matters”
ABSTRACT
While there is no proof that there are distinct races among humans, racial divisions remain alive and relevant. Discrimination feeds into racism and sponsor...