Articles tagged with Speech
Researchers developed a tool to identify children with red flags for speech disorders, guiding therapy referrals. The study found that developmental speech errors are common in young children, but resolve by seven years, and that some errors take longer to outgrow.
Researchers found that brain synchrony between mothers and children is equally strong when playing in the native language or an acquired second language. This suggests that multilingualism can support healthy communication and learning without disrupting the brain-to-brain connection.
A new study using Victorian recordings from Lancaster University's archive found strong links between industrial growth and accent evolution in northern England. The Barrow-in-Furness accent developed due to intense population change and mixing, leading to distinct social histories and settlement patterns.
Researchers have found that babies can detect verb inconsistencies as early as 10 months old, using brain imaging technology. This finding suggests that infants begin to develop an understanding of verbs before they even say their first words.
A study by University of Connecticut researchers found that missionaries consistently draw on the same language toolkit to describe their experiences abroad and difficulties returning home. They used metaphors, personification of God, and biblical vernacular to make sense of their transitions.
Researchers compared brains of stroke patients with healthy controls to reveal differences in language processing mechanisms. People with verbal speech processing issues from stroke have weaker processing of speech sounds than healthy participants.
A new study from the University of East Anglia finds that AI tools excel at speed and clarity, but human translators remain crucial for tone, cultural nuance, and natural sound. Generative AI can handle parts of video translation, but consumers still notice when something feels off.
A new study by Waseda University researchers explores the role of morphological processing in L2 French ambiguity, finding that it plays a significant role in causing speech errors. The study suggests that educators should integrate pronunciation and vocabulary exercises more holistically to help learners overcome hidden ambiguities.
The verb kikoyu, originally meaning 'to hear', came to represent approximate understanding, then general understanding, and finally conviction. This process reflects cognitive simulation and mental representation transformation.
A new training program equips bilingual staff with medical interpretation skills, increasing qualified interpreter status to 72% among participants. The innovative approach leverages heritage-speaking staff's linguistic and cultural strengths to address the high need for qualified medical interpreters in primary care.
A Baycrest study found that subtle features of speech timing, such as pauses and fillers, are linked to executive function and predict cognitive decline. The research uses artificial intelligence to analyze natural speech patterns for early detection of dementia.
McGill researchers developed a new hydrogel that resisted breakdown for weeks, giving vocal cords a better chance to heal and potentially reducing the need for repeat procedures. The gel is made from natural tissue proteins processed into a powder and converted into a gel using click chemistry.
A study of individuals with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, and typical hearing found that cognitive ability significantly impacted successful speech perception in noisy environments. The researchers discovered a highly significant relationship between intellectual ability and multitalker listening challenge scores.
A team of researchers analyzed Taylor Swift's recorded interviews to study her dialect changes across different eras of her career. They found that she adopted features of the Southern accent when living in Nashville and lowered her voice pitch when moving to New York City, which may have been a strategic move to project authority.
The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) has been recognized for its successful initiatives promoting cultural humility and community connections. The First 5 Minutes: Cultural Humility training modules equip healthcare providers with tools to foster respect and empathy in patient interactions.
A recent study found dramatic differences in how large language models classify hate speech, with significant variations for specific demographic groups. The analysis of seven models revealed that content moderation systems have inconsistent detection accuracy, which can erode trust and create perceptions of bias.
Researchers found that humans across cultures and languages break their speech into Intonation Units, which follow a low-frequency rhythm of 1.6 seconds. This universal structure plays a critical role in helping listeners follow conversations and absorb information.
Researchers used AI tools to analyze posts from 54 Reddit communities, finding similarities in speech patterns between hate speech groups and communities for certain psychiatric disorders. The study suggests that exposing oneself to hate speech online may lead to decreased empathy and traits similar to Cluster B personality disorders.
Researchers found that twangy female voices were understood more than neutral voices when surrounded by noise. This is due to the higher-pitched nature of twangy speech, which gives it a perceived loudness and reduces masking by low-frequency sounds.
A systematic review identified 112 studies on implantable brain-computer interfaces, which decode brain signals to control devices. The analysis found that iBCI technologies are being used to control robotic prosthetic limbs and digital technologies, but clinical outcomes were highly mixed.
A new study by Waseda University researchers suggests that learners need to automatize word meanings in context to achieve fluent speech. By assessing automatized vocabulary knowledge (AVK) and declarative vocabulary knowledge (DVK), the team found AVK to be a stronger predictor of L2 speaking fluency.
Researchers analyzed over 4,000 examples of Russian spoken by bilinguals, finding that non-standard numeral constructions are influenced by native languages and frequency of use. Less familiar expressions involving numbers two to four were used in non-standard forms more frequently.
Researchers used nonsense words to test ChatGPT's language processing capabilities, finding it excelled at discovering relationships and providing definitions for extinct words. However, the AI also generated incorrect or made-up answers in some cases, highlighting its limitations.
Researchers at UC Davis developed a brain-computer interface that translates neural activity into speech in real time. The technology allows individuals with ALS to communicate more naturally and inclusively, with 60% of synthesized words intelligible to listeners.
Researchers built a data pipeline to train AI tools for childhood speech screening, addressing the lack of representative datasets. The resulting high-quality dataset enables faster and more accurate diagnoses, especially in areas with limited access to specialists.
A Carnegie Mellon University researcher critiques an article on large language models' ability to analyze sensitive discourse, including hate speech. The commentary highlights the need for a nuanced approach to human-AI collaboration in critical discourse analysis.
Researchers at the University of Calgary investigate the effectiveness of transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with intensive speech therapy for treating poststroke aphasia. The study found significant improvements in speech, confidence, and mood among participants, offering new hope for those affected by stroke.
A new eNeuro study explores how competing sounds affect subcortical brain activity, revealing increasingly smaller responses as multiple speech streams are introduced. This finding has implications for understanding hearing loss and difficulties with auditory processing in noisy environments.
Researchers identified three key principles in language recovery after stroke: rapid reinforcement of damaged areas by unaffected network regions, activation of homologous mirror-image areas, and increased communication between affected areas.
A study analyzed over 14,000 voice samples from adults to evaluate an AI-based machine learning biomarker tool detecting depression through speech cadence and acoustic features. The tool demonstrated a sensitivity of 71%, correctly identifying depression in 71% of people who had it.
Researchers from Lancaster University found a significant link between hearing impairment and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The study analyzed data from the UK Biobank, revealing a 57% higher risk for every 10-decibel increase in baseline hearing loss.
A new study by Lancaster University reveals that language in job ads can unintentionally reinforce or disrupt labour force gender/racial composition. Workforces with more women tend to use family-friendly policies in ads, while racial minority workers' ads lack impact, the research shows.
The study analyzes the impact of enunciation on speech-to-text accuracy in medical situations, highlighting challenges with medical terms and noisy environments. A new audio dataset was created to improve the technology's usefulness for healthcare professionals.
A new study found that speech sounds have texture and shape to them, with R sounds associated with roughness and L sounds with smoothness. The research showed strong tendencies for matching trilled R sounds with jagged lines and L sounds with straight lines across cultures.
A Cambridge study suggests that people from Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Ireland are better at detecting fake accents than those from London and the Southeast. The study found that participants were able to detect fake accents with an accuracy of around 60%, varying by region and cultural homogeneity.
Researchers compared vowels in pain, disgust, and joy interjections to nonlinguistic vocalizations across 131 languages. They found consistent vowel signatures for pain and disgust, but not for joyful emotions.
A recent study from the University of Surrey found that remote medical interpreting (RMI) can compromise the quality of communication in healthcare settings. Interpreters reported mixed experiences with technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for careful consideration of interpreting methods based on the nature o...
A new study found that foreign accents can mitigate judgment for grammatical errors, except in cases where listeners are highly conscientious. The research suggests that English speakers are generally tolerant of grammatical errors when the speaker has a foreign accent.
Researchers found that Democrats and Republicans generally agree on what to censor when it comes to hate speech, with both parties prioritizing similar targets and severity levels. The study's findings suggest that social media companies can find consensus policies that get broad support, even in a highly polarized era.
Researchers found that humans slow their speech when talking to dogs to match the pets' receptive abilities, allowing for better understanding of commands. The study also revealed that dogs respond well to slower tempos and prosody in human speech.
Researchers analyzed audio and motion data from unstructured face-to-face conversations to investigate the multimodal dynamic between speech and movements. The study found synchronization at all timescales of conversation, suggesting that turn-taking dynamics play a crucial role in coordinating verbal and nonverbal cues.
A new study found that consonant lengthening is a universal trait in many languages, helping listeners identify word boundaries. The researchers analyzed data from the DoReCo corpus and found evidence of lengthening in 43 out of 51 languages.
Researchers developed a multi-variable model called Hear-MHE that analyzes speech patterns to identify symptoms of minimal hepatic encephalopathy. The test shows promise in predicting overt hepatic encephalopathy and could lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment.
A recent study found that national politics predominantly use abstract, moralized, and power-centric language, lacking local common ground. This shift is thought to fuel partisan animosity and provoke anger.
A new Northwestern Medicine study identifies critical language connector sites in the cerebral cortex that work together to produce language. These sites serve as connectors between subnetworks of people, serving a similar function for language in the brain.
A pilot study found that voice changes recorded on a smartphone can signal an impending flare-up of COPD symptoms. Researchers analyzed the voices of 28 people with COPD and discovered higher pitched tones and 'jitter' before an exacerbation occurred.
A study of children's conversations with caretakers found that the Care/Harm foundation emerges at a younger age than other moral foundations, appearing in one-year-olds' speech. The study also showed that children tend to discuss fairness while caretakers focus on Purity/Degradation.
Research by Lancaster University found that people in higher social grades, including corporate world and education sectors, are adopting each other's speech patterns to be more inclusive. This 'resonance' has increased over the past 20 years, particularly among those with high social status.
Researchers found that American athletes borrow Canadian English accent features for hockey-specific terms and jargon, but not underlying pronunciation rules. Adopting these dialects is a way players portray their identity through speech.
A new study from Southern Methodist University reveals that passive video use among toddlers can hinder language development, but caregivers' reasons for exposing them to digital media can lessen the negative impact. When videos are used for educational or social purposes, such as video chats with family members, the risk of stunted la...
A new study finds that Americans from the South mimic Southern speech patterns when actually listening to a Southerner, but only shift their speech when told they're hearing a Southerner. Non-Southerners, however, are influenced by stereotypes and only shift their speech when told so.
Researchers at Lancaster University find that the 'r' sound is becoming weaker in England, with most young speakers softening it to an elongation of the vowel. This decline is predicted to continue, potentially erasing traditional dialects and linguistic homogenization.
Researchers investigate how creaky voice use varies across different areas of Sydney, finding that the area's diversity plays a significant role. The study reveals mixed results regarding the influence of gender on creaky voice use, with no statistically significant difference found between men and women.
Researchers found that phonetic encoding in babies emerged gradually over the first year of life, beginning with labial sounds and nasal sounds. Parents should speak to their babies using sing-song speech as soon as possible to help them learn language.
A team of researchers at Penn State found that a moderate talking speed for digital assistants increases user likelihood to use them. Conversation-like interactions also mitigate negative effects and increase user trust.
A linguistic phenomenon reveals specific rules governing sentence construction, shedding light on universal features of human language. The researchers found that 'whom of which' obeys strict rules, contributing to a larger discussion about syntax and the existence of pied piping.
Researchers found that white English speakers' accents have shifted away from traditional Southern pronunciation since Generation X. The study, published in Language Variation and Change, used archived and new recordings to analyze vowel patterns, finding distinct changes between baby boomers and Gen X.
A new dictionary provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare's language, revealing words with reduced mental ability and plant hybrids. The Arden Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's Language offers insights into the linguistic thumbprints of plays and characters, as well as the networks of character interaction.
Researchers expand simple view of reading framework using meta-analytic structural equation modeling, validating its effectiveness for SFL learners. Decoding skills and language comprehension skills are identified as primary components for effective SFL reading instruction.
Scientists studied vocal behavior of ten mothers and found they articulated better and expressed more positive emotions when speaking to their babies or puppies. This hyperarticulation led to clearer pronunciation of words and easier processing for infants.