Identification of vocal communication of emotions across cultures.

Across Cultures. NOTE 22p. ABSTRACT The experiment discussed in this report investigates cross cultural ability to decode emotive meaning in extra-verbal vocal expressions of mood. The principal expectation of the study is that primitive mood expressions are understood in much the same way in all the countries tested. The moods depicted in the study-angry, sad, happy, flirtatious, fearful, and indifferent-are portrayed by Americans and interpreted by American, Polish, and Japanese subjects. Agreement across cultures on the mood expressed is high, and accuracy in response increases with the length of the expression to be interpreted. The results suggest the presence of a universal emotive language in the vocal channel. Details of the experiment are presented. Tables illustrate the statistical results, and a list of references is included.