School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, UK.
Br J Dev Psychol. 2012 Nov;30(Pt 4):531-49. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-835X.2011.02062.x. Epub 2011 Oct 17.
Previous studies indicate that the acoustic features of speech discriminate between positive and negative communicative intentions, such as approval and prohibition. Two studies investigated whether acoustic features of speech can discriminate between two positive communicative intentions: humour and sweet-sincerity, where sweet-sincerity involved being sincere in a positive, warm-hearted way. In Study 1, 22 mothers read a book containing humorous, sweet-sincere, and neutral-sincere images to their 19- to 24-month-olds. In Study 2, 41 mothers read a book containing humorous or sweet-sincere sentences and images to their 18- to 24-month-olds. Mothers used a higher mean F0 to communicate visual humour as compared to visual sincerity. Mothers used greater F0 mean, range, and standard deviation; greater intensity mean, range, and standard deviation; and a slower speech rate to communicate verbal humour as compared to verbal sweet-sincerity. Mothers used a rising linear contour to communicate verbal humour, but used no specific contour to express verbal sweet-sincerity. We conclude that speakers provide acoustic cues enabling listeners to distinguish between positive communicative intentions.
先前的研究表明，语音的声学特征可以区分积极和消极的交际意图，例如赞成和禁止。两项研究调查了语音的声学特征是否可以区分两种积极的交际意图：幽默和诚挚的善意，其中诚挚的善意是以积极、热心的方式表达真诚。在研究 1 中，22 位母亲向 19 至 24 个月大的婴儿朗读一本包含幽默、诚挚的善意和中性的善意的图片的书。在研究 2 中，41 位母亲向 18 至 24 个月大的婴儿朗读一本包含幽默或诚挚的善意的句子和图片的书。与表达善意相比，母亲用更高的平均基频来传达视觉幽默。母亲用更高的平均基频、范围和标准差；更高的平均强度、范围和标准差；以及更慢的语速来传达口头幽默，而不是口头的诚挚的善意。母亲用上升的线性语调来传达口头幽默，但用没有特定的语调来表达口头的诚挚的善意。我们的结论是，说话者提供了声学线索，使听众能够区分积极的交际意图。
