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The Acquisition of Vowel Normalization during Early Infancy: Theory and Computational Framework

Plummer, Andrew R
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1388689249

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Linguistics.
Vowel normalization is a computation that is meant to account for the differences in the absolute direct (physical or psychophysical) representations of qualitatively equivalent vowel productions that arise due to differences in speaker properties such as body size types, age, gender, and other socially interpreted categories that are based on natural variation in vocal tract size and shape. In this dissertation, we address the metaphysical and epistemological aspects of vowel normalization pertaining to spoken language acquisition during early infancy. We begin by reviewing approaches to conceptualizing and modeling the phonetic components of early spoken language acquisition, forming a catalog of phenomena that serves as the basis for our discourse. We then establish the existence of a vowel normalization computation carried out by infants early in their spoken language acquisition, and put forward a conceptual and technical framework for its investigation which focuses attention on the generative nature of the computation. We then situate the acquisition of vowel normalization within a broader developmental framework encompassing a suite of vocal learning phenomena, including language-specific caretaker vocal exchanges, perceptual warping, and multisensory matching and narrowing. We demonstrate the applicability of the technical formulation through the creation of a virtual environment for vocal learning which provides the means to model the acquisition of vowel normalization, along with other aspects of vocal learning. We conclude with a discussion of the broader implications of the conceptual and technical formulation.
Mary Beckman (Advisor)
Eric Fosler-Lussier (Committee Member)
William Schuler (Committee Member)
259 p.
Linguistics
vowel normalization; phonological acquisition; manifold alignment; speaker adaptation; vowel category acquisition

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Plummer, A. R. (2014). The Acquisition of Vowel Normalization during Early Infancy: Theory and Computational Framework [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1388689249

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Plummer, Andrew. The Acquisition of Vowel Normalization during Early Infancy: Theory and Computational Framework. 2014. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1388689249.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Plummer, Andrew. "The Acquisition of Vowel Normalization during Early Infancy: Theory and Computational Framework." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1388689249

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1388689249
682
© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.