Research talk: Wentao Gu (Nanjing Normal University, Institute of Linguistic Science and Technology)

Title: Effects of Speaker Traits on Acoustic and Perceptual Characteristics of Speech

Dr. Wentao Gu is a visiting professor in McGill’s School of Communication Sciences and Disorders for the 2022-23 year. This talk will be offered in-person only. Registration requested but not required – all are welcome.

Abstract: Speech communication is a process of conveying not only linguistic but also para-/non-linguistic information, the latter of which is more closely associated with the physiological and psychological natures of speakers and listeners. Para-/non-linguistic information includes both speaker states (e.g., emotion, attitude, and intention) which can generally be controlled by speakers voluntarily, and speaker traits (e.g., gender, age, personality, ethnic identity, health condition, and social role) which generally cannot be controlled by speakers voluntarily. Speaker states have been widely studied in the field of emotional/affective speech communication, while even though speaker traits are research topics in sociophonetics, forensic phonetics and clinical phonetics, many basic issues on speaker traits are yet to be explored. In recent years, we have conducted a series of experimental studies to investigate the effects of speaker’s gender, sexual orientation, attachment style, and linguistic/cultural background on acoustic and perceptual characteristics of speech, with some interaction between speaker trait and speaker state also examined. My talk will cover these topics: (1) Effects of adult attachment style on prosodic and phonatory characteristics of intimate speech in a romantic relationship; (2) Acoustic and perceptual characteristics of Mandarin speech in gay male speakers; (3) Effects of speaker/listener’s gender and linguistic/cultural background on speech charisma.

When: Wednesday, October 19, 3:00pm

Where: 2001 McGill-College, room 461 (in-person only)

Coffee will be served. We encourage you to bring your own reusable mug.

Accessibility: The event will be held in an accessible building (note that the wheelchair-accessible entrance is on McGill-College; the entrance from Sherbrooke St has a few steps). Participants are invited to make us aware of any barriers to their participation or any accommodations that we can provide, through the registration form below