Open-Mouthed or Stiff Upper Lip? Exploring Language-Specific Articulatory Settings in English-German Bilinguals
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen Margaret University
Department Name: Clinical Audiology Speech &Lang Res Cen
Abstract
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Publications

De Leeuw E
(2011)
Singing a different tune in your native language: first language attrition of prosody
in International Journal of Bilingualism

De Leeuw E
(2012)
Dynamic systems, maturational constraints and L1 phonetic attrition
in International Journal of Bilingualism


Geng C
(2013)
Recording speech articulation in dialogue: Evaluating a synchronized double electromagnetic articulography setup
in Journal of Phonetics

J. Scobbie
(2011)
Audible aspects of speech preparation

James Scobbie (Author)
(2010)
Out of the mouths ofarticulatory methodologies for language acquisition

James Scobbie (Author)
(2011)
Articulation, social variation and phonology

James Scobbie (Author)
(2011)
Ultrasound tongue imaging : quick and easy speaker articulation images

James Scobbie (Author)
(2011)
L1 attrition and bilingual development

Mennen I
(2010)
Measuring language-specific phonetic settings
in Second Language Research

P. Palo
(2014)
Pre-Speech Tongue Movements Recorded with Ultrasound

S. Schaeffler
(2014)
Measuring Reaction Times: Vocalisation vs. Articulation


Scobbie JM
(2011)
Audible aspects of speech preparation

Sonja Schaeffler (Speaker)
(2012)
Listeners' tongues
Description | There are many reasons for why languages sound different. Languages differ, for example, in the sets of sounds they are composed of, and in how intonation is used throughout utterances. However, languages may make a distinction on an even more basic level, namely in the characteristic way speakers of a language set up their articulators, i.e. their tongue, their lip and their jaw - during speech, and in the preparation for speech. This phenomenon is often referred to as language-specific articulatory settings. The aim of our project was to develop a methodology suitable to empirically determine whether bilingual speakers keep their two languages apart by setting up their articulators in a different manner for each language. To this end we have employed articulatory instrumentation to explore the speech production of German-English bilinguals. Specifically, we used Ultrasound Tongue Imaging to record the overall shape of the tongue, the motion-capture system Vicon to record the position of the jaw and the lips as they change over time, and Electropalatography to record contact patterns of the tongue with the roof of the mouth. The results of our project show that the bilinguals we tested do indeed produce their two languages differently, and that these differences can be quantified. Moreover, we have developed a naturalistic and generalisable methodology that can be utilised in future research on articulatory settings, and that can be expanded to a range of language dyads. Crucially, we have also gained important insights into speech preparation, more generally, as well as further refined our articulatory measurements. |
Exploitation Route | We had a lot of interest from researchers working on bilingualism as well as researcher working on principles of speech production and speech preparation more generally. |
Sectors | Education Healthcare |
Description | Queen Margaret University Project Investment Bid scheme |
Amount | £2,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Queen Margaret University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2010 |
End | 03/2010 |
Description | Research Associate role |
Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
Department | ESRC Centre for Research on Bilingualism in Theory & Practice |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My publications have been submitted under annual reports to the ESRC. I have been invited to give a talk at the Centre. |
Collaborator Contribution | On-going intellectual exchange with Centre staff have informed my research. |
Impact | Mennen, I., Scobbie, J., deLeeuw, E., Schaeffler, S., Schaeffler, F. (2010). Measuring Language-Specific Phonetic Settings. In: Second Language Research 26 (1): 13-41. |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | Articulatory aspects of clicks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | |
Results and Impact | Delivered at workshop on clicks |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity |
Description | Language-specific articulatory settings in L2 speech |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | |
Results and Impact | Presented at Newsounds 2010 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Newspaper coverage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | We were approached by a journalist of the Sunday Times, a bilingual herself, who was interested in our research and wanted to report on it. We invited her to spend the day at our lab, participate in our experiment and have a look at our equipment. This resulted in an article in the Times on Sunday with the title "Study puts the accent on English for foreigners" (15 Nov 2009). After reading the newspaper article, various people approached me asking about research on Bilingualism and other related activities in Edinburgh - mainly parents to children growing up with two or more languages. I could assure these members of the public about the benefits of bilingualism and also made them aware of community activities led by "Bilingualism Matters" (http://www.bilingualism-matters.ppls.ed.ac.uk/). Any reassurance to parents of bilingual children and the offer of support where needed can in my experience help to ensure that parents will continue to use more than one language at home. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
URL | http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6917405.ece |
Description | Phonological analysis and the interpretation of phonetic patterns : with particular reference to social variation and articulatory ultrasound data |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | |
Results and Impact | Invited talk as part of seminar series |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity |
Description | Sounds and ultrasound in Scotland : seeing what people can & can't hear |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | |
Results and Impact | Invited talk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity |