Browsing by Person "Scobbie, James M."

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A common co-ordinate system for mid-sagittal articulatory measurement
(2011-06) Scobbie, James M.; Lawson, Eleanor; Cowen, Steve; Cleland, Joanne; Wrench, Alan A.
A standard practice in EMA articulatory measurement is to set the origin of the measurement space near the boundary of the upper incisors and gum, on a standard reference coil. A conventional horizontal dimension is defined as being parallel to the speaker's unique bite (occlusal) plane. We propose that this convention be extended to other instrumentation, with a focus on how it can be achieved for ultrasound tongue imaging (UTI) in particular, using a disposable and hygienic vacuum-formed bite plate of known size. A bite plane trace, like a palate trace, provides a consistent reference to allow images to be rotated and translated in case the probe is in a new location relative to a speaker's cranial space. The bite plane also allows speakers with differently shaped palates to be overlaid, and for ultrasound data to share a coordinate space with EMA. We illustrate the proposal using a sample of six speakers. The average bite plane slope could be used to retrospectively rotate ultrasound data that lacks bite-plane measurement
A mimicry study of adaptation towards socially-salient tongue shape variants
(Penn Graduate Linguistics Society, 2014-10-01) Lawson, Eleanor; Stuart-Smith, Jane; Scobbie, James M.
A phonetically versatile contrast: Pulmonic and glottalic voicelessness in Scottish English obstruents and voice quality
(Cambridge University Press, 2013-11-04) Gordeeva, Olga B.; Scobbie, James M.
This paper presents impressionistic, electroglottographic and acoustic data exploring the distribution of glottalic and pulmonic parameters in word-final Scottish English obstruents. On one hand, we focus on the relationship between these parameters and aspirated or glottalised phonatory settings of individual speakers. On the other hand, we explore the relationship between glottalic airstream and phonological /voice/. We show that laryngeally different phonatory settings such as glottalisation and aspiration can readily co-occur in the same speakers, and can be consistently used as secondary correlates of obstruent /-voice/. The results further show that although /-voice/ with glottalisation as its secondary correlate and ejective stops often co-occur near the same phonetic locus, they are not necessarily bound together in epiphenomenal terms in this variety of English.
A single case study of articulatory adaptation during acoustic mimicry
(2011-08) Lawson, Eleanor; Scobbie, James M.; Stuart-Smith, Jane; ESRC
The distribution of fine-grained phonetic variation can be observed in the speech of members of well-defined social groups. It is evident that such variation must somehow be able to propagate through a speech community from speaker to hearer. However, technological barriers have meant that close and direct study of the articulatory links of this speaker-hearer chain has not, to date, been possible. We present the results of a single-case study using an ultrasound-based method to investigate temporal and configurational lingual adaptation during mimicry. Our study focuses on allophonic variants of postvocalic /r/ found in speech from Central Scotland. Our results show that our informant was able to adjust tongue gesture timing towards that of the stimulus, but did not alter tongue configuration.
A socio-articulatory study of Scottish rhoticity
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) Lawson, Eleanor; Scobbie, James M.; Stuart-Smith, Jane; Lawson, Robert
Increasing attention is being paid in sociolinguistics to how fine phonetic variation is exploited by speakers to construct and index social identity (Hay and Drager 2007). To date, most sociophonetic work on consonants has made use of acoustic analysis to reveal unexpectedly subtle variation which is nonetheless socially indexical (e.g. Docherty and Foulkes 1999). However, some aspects of speech production are not readily recoverable even with a fine-grained acoustic analysis. New articulatory analysis techniques, such as ultrasound tongue imaging (UTI), allow researchers to push the boundaries further, identifying seemingly covert aspects of speech articulation which pattern with indexical factors with remarkable consistency. One such case is postvocalic /r/ variation in Central Scotland.
Accommodation or political identity: Scottish members of the UK Parliament
(Cambridge University Press, 2017-11-24) Hall-Lew, Lauren; Friskney, Ruth; Scobbie, James M.
Phonetic variation among Scottish Members of the UK Parliament may be influenced by convergence to Southern English norms (Carr & Brulard 2006) or political identity (e.g., Hall-Lew, Coppock & Starr 2010). Drawing on a year's worth of political speeches (2011- 2012) from ten Scottish Members of the UK Parliament (MPs), we find no acoustic evidence for the adoption of a Southern English low vowel system; rather, we find that vowel height is significantly correlated with political party: Scottish Labour Party MPs produce a higher 'CAT' vowel (Johnston 1997) than do Scottish National Party MPs. The results contradict claims that Scottish MPs acquire 'Anglo-English' features while at UK Parliament. Rather, we suggest that the variation indexes political meaning, with a subset of individuals drawing on that indexicality in production.
Acoustic, articulatory and phonological perspectives on rhoticity and /r/ in Dutch.
(Oxford University Press, 2010-12) Scobbie, James M.; Sebregts, Koen; Folli, Raffaella; Ulbrich, Christiane
Acquisition of new speech motor plans via articulatory visual biofeedback
(Peter Lang, 2019) Scobbie, James M.; Cleland, Joanne; Fuchs, Susanne; Cleland, Joanne; Rochet-Capellan, Amélie
This chapter describes the concept of categorising persistent Speech Sound Disorder in children as a disorder characterised by erroneous motor plans. Different types of articulatory visual biofeedback are described, each of which is designed to allow children to view their articulators moving in real-time and to use this information to establish more accurate motor plans (namely, electropalatography, electromagnetic articulography and ultrasound tongue imaging). An account of how these articulatory biofeedback techniques might lead to acquisition of new motor plans is given, followed by a case study of a child with persistent velar fronting who acquired a new motor plan for velar stops using ultrasound visual biofeedback.
Acquisition of Scottish English Phonology: an overview
(2006) Scobbie, James M.; Gordeeva, Olga B.; Matthews, Ben
Scottish English is usually characterized as a language continuum from Broad Scots to Scottish Standard English- (Corbett, McClure & Stuart-Smith, 2003, p.2). A 1996 survey preparatory to the 2001 census by the General Register Office (Scotland) estimated that about 30% of the Scottish population use (Broad) Scots to some extent, rising to 90% in the North East. The linguistic situation on the ground is complicated somewhat by population movement and dialect contact (as well as uncertainty about what constitutes Scots or Scottish Standard English (SSE) in the first place). Scots derives from the Anglian variety of Old English spoken in the 6th century, and varies regionally, whereas SSE is far more homogenous geographically. Scots speakers still tend only to be exposed in childhood to a Scottish English continuum which is rooted in their own local variety of Scots and so are not influenced much by other geographically delimited broad varieties. This continuum is of course just one aspect of sociolinguistic variation and is itself always undergoing language change: large differences should be expected between older more conservative speakers and the young as well as regionally and socio-economically. In the urban setting, local housing variation means that adjacent neighbourhoods may have markedly different linguistic profiles. Even the two ends of the Scots-SSE continuum are largely mutually intelligible, though mastery of SSE will not prepare someone new to Scotland (or indeed nave Scots themselves) for the difficulties they will face in understanding a broad speaker from an unfamiliar area. In general, the closely-related varieties of Scottish English can be thought of as being parallel with - but independent from - the other Englishes of the UK, but with their own national focus, however vague that is. The size, proximity and influence of England, as well as population movements mean, however, that historically and synchronically, the Scottish English continuum is attracted towards its English neighbour.
Advances in EPG for treatment and research: an illustrative case study
(Taylor & Francis, 2004) Scobbie, James M.; Wood, Sara; Wrench, Alan A.
Electropalatography (EPG), a technique which reveals tongue-palate contact patterns over time, is a highly effective tool for speech research. We report here on recent developments by Articulate Instruments Ltd. These include hardware for Windows-based computers, backwardly compatible (with Reading EPG3) software systems for clinical intervention and laboratory-based analysis for EPG and acoustic data, and an enhanced clinical interface with client and file management tools. We focus here on a single case study of a child aged 10 years who had been diagnosed with an intractable speech disorder possibly resulting ultimately from a complete cleft of hard and soft palate. We illustrate how assessment, diagnosis and treatment of the intractable speech disorder are undertaken using this new generation of instrumental phonetic support. We also look forward to future developments in articulatory phonetics that will link EPG with ultrasound for research and clinical communities. Keywords: Electropalatography, ultrasound, speech disorders, perceptual analysis
An articulatory investigation of word final /l/ and /l/-sandhi in three dialects of English.
(Universitat Autnoma de Barcelona, 2003) Scobbie, James M.; Wrench, Alan A.; Recasens, D.; Romero, J.; SolÃ©, M. J.
We use the MOCHA articulatory speech database to ex-plore word-final /l/ in English. Eight speakers, drawn from three nations with distinct phonological systems (Scotland, England and USA) all display pervasive and systematic /l/ vocalisation (defined as lack of alveolar contact in EPG data). Vocalisation of word-final /l/ is radically con-text-dependent for seven subjects. These English speakers have a post-lexical external sandhi alternation of conso-nantal vs. vocalic /l/ which appears categorical. We de-scribe the general tendencies and the systematic linguistic differences between speakers, which are orthogonal to national dialect. Coda (re)syllabification of /l/ is not subtle or flexible enough to condition the distribution of vocali-sation. Prosodic, segmental and phrasal factors are all re-quired. A preliminary EMA analysis of intracontextual variability reveals both gradient and categorical aspects.
An Evaluation of Inter-Speech Postures for the Study of Language-Specific Articulatory Settings.
(2008) Schaeffler, Sonja; Scobbie, James M.; Mennen, Ineke
We present a methodological study evaluating Inter-Speech Postures, i.e. vocal-tract configurations achieved in the silent preparation for speech which have been claimed to be indicative of articulatory settings. The term articulatory setting refers to a characteristic use of the articulators believed to shape the overall phonetic realisation of a language and with that, possibly, its 'typical sound' [3].
An ultrasound protocol for comparing tongue contours: upright vs. supine
(2011-08) Wrench, Alan A.; Cleland, Joanne; Scobbie, James M.; EPSRC EP/I027696/1
A study is described that employs ultrasound to measure the effects of gravity on production of vowels. The materials are designed to encourage consistent production over repetitions. A recording and analysis protocol is described which allows for correction for probe movement or rejection of data where correction is not possible. Results indicate a slight superior and posterior displacement of the tongue root in supine posture, consistent with a shift in the support structure of the tongue.
Apparent time change in the articulation of onset rhotics in Southern British English
(2023-08) Strycharczuk, Patrycja; Lloyd, Susan; Scobbie, James M.
The /r/ phoneme in Anglo English is known to correspond to a number of relatively distinct articulatory variants. However, little is known about the social structure of this variation. In this study,we investigate the effect of two social factors, age and gender, on the production of /r/, in a sample of 36 speakers from the South of England. We analysed ultrasound images of prevocalic /r/ tokens. We measured the distances between the short tendon and 11 points on the tongue surface. We compared these distances across speakers in representative /r/ frames. We find an apparent time difference whereby the distance between the tongue tip and the short tendon reduced in apparent time, potentially signalling an ongoing sound change from a tipup to tipdown /r/.
Articulating five liquids: A single speaker ultrasound study of Malayalam
(Bozen-Bolzano University Press, 2013-08-09) Scobbie, James M.; Punnoose, Reenu; Khattab, Ghada; Spreafico, Lorenzo; Vietti, Alessandro
We investigate the lingual shapes of the five liquid phonemes of Malayalam: two rhotics, two laterals and a more problematic 5th liquid. Ultrasound is used to image the mid-sagittal tongue surface, mainly in an intervocalic within-word /a__a/ context. The dark retroflex lateral and trill have a retracted tongue root and lowered tongue dorsum, while the three other clear liquids show advanced tongue root and dorsal raising. The 5th liquid is post-alveolar and laminal. Some additional data from an /a__i/ context is considered: the liquids are slightly clearer before /i/: all have a slightly advanced tongue root, and all bar the trill show palatalization. Dynamically, the trill and retroflex lateral have a very stable tongue root in /a__a/, and the 5th liquid has unusual anterior kinematic properties which require further investigation.
Articulation therapy for children with cleft palate using visual articulatory models and ultrasound biofeedback
(International Phonetic Association, 2015-08-15) Roxburgh, Zoe; Scobbie, James M.; Cleland, Joanne
Visual biofeedback tools, such as Electropalatography (EPG), are recommended for assessing and treating speech sound disorders (SSDs) associated with Cleft Palate (CP). However, EPG is not suitable for all clients, due to dependencies on stable dentition and timing of palatal repair. Ultrasound is becoming increasingly popular for its use in treating SSDs, with no reports on its dependency on structure of the vocal tract. However its clinical application in the CP population remains to be tested. We compared Visual Articulatory Models (VAMs) with Ultrasound for the treatment of SSDs in two children with repaired submucous CP. Both children received two blocks of therapy each with eight sessions, with the first block using VAMs and the second using ultrasound. Results showed that both children improved overall, with more improvement found in the first block of therapy using VAMs.
Articulatory Aspects of Approximants
(Equinox Publishing, 2026) Lawson, Eleanor; Scobbie, James M.
Articulatory insights into language variation and change : preliminary findings from an ultrasound study of derhoticization in Scottish English
(Penn Linguistics Club, 2008) Lawson, Eleanor; Stuart-Smith, Jane; Scobbie, James M.
Scottish English is often cited as a rhotic dialect of English. However, in the 70s and 80s, researchers noticed that postvocalic /r/ was in attrition in Glasgow (Macafee, 1983) and Edinburgh (Romaine, 1978; Johnston and Speitel 1983). Recent research (Stuart-Smith, 2003) confirms that postvocalic /r/ as a canonical phonetically rhotic consonant is being lost in working-class Glaswegian speech. However, auditory and acoustic analysis revealed that the situation was more complicated than simple /r/ vs. zero variation. The derhoticized quality of /r/ seemed to vary socially; in particular male working class speakers often produced intermediate sounds that were difficult to identify. It is clear that although auditory and acoustic analysis are useful, they can only hint at what is going on in the vocal tract. A direct articulatory study is thus motivated. Instrumental phonetic studies that examine the vocal tract during the production of sustained rhotic consonants and in laboratory-based studies of American English /r/ have identified a complex relationship between articulation and acoustics, including articulatory differences with minimal acoustic consequences (starting with Delattre and Freeman, 1968). In other words, different gestural configurations can be used to generate a canonically rhotic consonant. A pilot study (Scobbie and Stuart-Smith, 2006) using Ultrasound Tongue Imaging (UTI) with a Scottish vernacular speaker revealed something rather different: the occurrence of a strong articulatory retroflex tongue motion, which generated little or no rhotic acoustic consequences because it was timed to occur after phonation had ceased, before pause. This tongue motion was found in a speaker who was weakly rhotic. Thus we may have a situation in which acoustic differences with a sociolinguistic function have, in some prosodic contexts, imperceptible articulatory differences in tongue position, though timing will vary. The situation of language variation and change in Scotland means that an articulatory/acoustic study is likely to give very different results to similar studies of rhotic speakers in the USA (Mielke, Twist, and Archangeli, 2006), and be particularly relevant to understanding social variation. Ultrasound is non-invasive and portable and therefore has great potential as an instrumental method for studying aspects of socially stratified variation: articulatory data can be physically collected in every-day social settings. However the technique requires refinement for effective use in recording locations outside the laboratory (e.g. in school, at home), and the potential impact of using the equipment on speech is not known. Gick (2002) suggest methods for fieldwork, but we are not aware of any study which attempts to quantify the effects of the technique on vernacular speakers. Ultrasound is non-invasive and portable and therefore has great potential as an instrumental method for studying aspects of socially stratified variation: articulatory data can be physically collected in every-day social settings. However the technique requires refinement for effective use in recording locations outside the laboratory (e.g. in school, at home), and the potential impact of using the equipment on speech is not known. Gick (2002) suggest methods for fieldwork, but we are not aware of any study which attempts to quantify the effects of the technique on vernacular speakers.
Audible aspects of speech preparation
(2011-08) Scobbie, James M.; Schaeffler, Sonja; Mennen, Ineke; ESRC (RES-000-22-3032)
Noises made before the acoustic onset of speech are typically ignored, yet may reveal aspects of speech production planning and be relevant to dis-course turn-taking. We quantify the nature and tim-ing of such noises, using an experimental method designed to elicit naturalistic yet controlled speech initiation data. Speakers listened to speech input, then spoke when prompt material became visible onscreen. They generally inhaled audibly before uttering a short sentence, but not before a single word. In both tasks, articulatory movements caused acoustic spikes due to weak click-like articulatory separations or stronger clicks via an ingressive, lingual airstream. The acoustic onset of the sen-tences was delayed relative to the words. This does not appear to be planned, but seems a side-effect of the longer duration of inhalation.
Autosegmental Representation in a Declarative Constraint-based Framework
(Garland Publishing Inc., 1997-11-30) Scobbie, James M.