Variation in speech tempo and its relationship to prosodic boundary occurrence in two speech genres

The present study focuses on two problems connected with speech tempo. First, earlier research has been prevalently concerned central tendencies while variation was mostly perceived as an auxiliary result. We believe, however, that information about data dispersion is essential for proper modelling and experiment design in the field of temporal structure speech. Therefore, provides reference values some tempo metrics pertain to (a) between-genre differences, (b) within-genre (c) inter-speaker (d) intra-speaker differences. Second, we tested claim faster tempi lead fewer prosodic breaks spoken texts. This had supported by studies where a respondent asked produce same text at various rates. We, other hand, pose question number speakers who are fast or slow inherently. material used represents genres: poetry reciting news reading, obtained recordings from 24 each genre. Apart providing quantifications, outcomes suggest, example, predisposition individual differs between genres. fastest reading were not necessarily reciting. result points specific behaviour different situations invites caution concerning idea hard-wired speaking stereotypes individuals. Also, correlation speakers’ rates phrases they produced significant only corroborated greater boundary placement reading. In addition, results offer insight into relationship articulation rate rate, together comparison measurements syllables per second phones second. latter can be interest since Czech (the language material) belongs languages complex syllabic structure.