Gender-specific phonetic variability: hormonal influences and occupational environment

• Applicant: Dr. Melanie Weirich
• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 430679437

The overall aim of the project is to promote the understanding of gender-specific linguistic variability that can be attributed to both biological and social factors. The biological aspect considers hormonal influences (A), the social factor is the occupational environment (B). Results of the project will help us to understand the phonetic and linguistic implementation of the construct "gender" in today’s society. The project takes an indisciplinary approach, combining phonetics, linguistics, sociology, psychology, medicine and gender studies.Part A of the project aims to investigate the relationship between speech and hormones. On the production side, the influence of certain hormones (estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, testosteron) on gender-specific acoustic-phonetic variability is examined. In addition, the potential interacting factors family status and mating interest are considered. On the perception side we will examine whether the factors named also affect a speaker’s perceived attractivity/masculinity/femininity and a listener’s sensitivity regarding gender-specific phonetic variability.Part B analyses the potential relationship between phonetic gender typicality and occupational environment. In particular, the influence of gender(un)typical occupations (carpenter, kindergarten teacher) on gender-specific acoustic-phonetic variability is investigated. Besides an analysis of gender-/speaker-/occupation-specific variation in production, the impact on listeners’ perceptions and their expectations and stereotypes regarding gender- and occupation-specific variability is examined.A speech data base for each part of the project will be created containing acoustic recordings of read and spontaneous speech together with relevant metadata of the speakers (gender, gender identity, age, occupation, family status, hormon levels, etc.). Acoustic analyses for both parts comprise the salient phonetic differences between males and females (fundamental frequency, formants, sibilants, voice quality).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants