Formulating the Identification of Mandarin Tone2 and Tone3 in Multi-dimensional Spaces

This study examines and formulates the effect of acoustic parameters on the identification of Mandarin Tone2 and Tone3, which are timing of turning point (T_t), falling of F0 (F0_△), duration (T_d), and precursor register (Register). Three stimulus matrixes of tone tokens are set up with T_t and F0_△. Subjects identify tone tokens. In Experiment 1, matrixes are different in T_t or T_t/Td. In Experiment 2 a same target matrix is preceded by different precursor registers. Identification rate of Tone2 (P_I) is calculated. Repeated ANOVA is applied on mean P_I across each matrix. Logistic regressions between P_I and different predictors are adopted. The result shows: (1) both T_t and F0_△ are negatively relevant to P_I and interacts in a quasi-linear way; (2) both T_t and T_t/T_d, with negative effects, should be taken as independent predictors; (3) negative effect of Register is confirmed, but it works as a quadratic reciprocal predictor.