Acoustic-phonetic variability in infant- and adult-directed speech in young parents

• Applicant: Dr. Melanie Weirich
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: from 2015 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 282014718

The proposed project investigates the potential relationship between typical phonetic correlates of careful speech and gender-specific roles - here, in the function of a primary caregiver of an infant. The focus of the study does not lie solely on infant-directed speech, but in particular on the potential impact of being the primary caregiver on adult-directed speech. By investigating this aspect in Germany and Sweden cross-linguistic and cross-cultural analyses can be made. Furthermore, Sweden is particularly interesting due to its leading position in gender equality and the compatibility of family and work in Europe since the 1970s. Thus, the ongoing change of the conventional gender roles will be reflected in this analysis. Moreover, the longstanding debate on the potential influencing factors of being the primary caregiver on gender-specific differences in clarity of speech will be addressed. Acoustic recordings of read and spontaneous speech of 30 German and Swedish mothers and 30 German and Swedish fathers will be carried out. The participants should be on parental leave for at least four month and be the primary caregiver for the infant during this time. Recordings of both infant- and adult-directed speech will be made at four time points (before the birth of the child, during parental leave (2 time points) and after parental leave). In addition, a control group of 10 German and 10 Swedish fathers that are not on parental leave will be part of the analysis. The investigated phonetic correlates of clear speech comprise the temporal aspect of segment durations and the spectral parameters acoustic vowel space, realization of sibilant contrast and modulation of speaking fundamental frequency. The chosen parameters are oriented on aspects typically found in infant-directed speech and gender-specific variability. The aims of the project are subdivided into two main objectives: a) the investigation of a change towards an enhancement of speech clarity in infant-directed speech in fathers (and mothers), and a possible effect of the duration of parental leave; and b) the potential change in the fathers phonetic correlates of clear speech also in adult-directed speech (resulting in a decrease in gender-specific differences), during, or even after parental leave.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Sweden
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Adrian Paul Simpson
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Christine Ericsdotter