Interspeaker variation in habitual speaking rate: Evidence for a neuromuscular component

Author(s): Weismer, G.

Journal/Book: J Speech Lang Hear Res. 1997; 40: 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-3279. Amer Speech-Language-Hearing Assoc. 858-866.

Abstract: Neuromuscular and sociolinguistic hypotheses were proposed to explore and account for he nature of individuals' idiosyncratic speech rates. One hundred subjects (50 males and 50 females) read he Farm Script passage at both habitual and maximum rates. FAST and SLOW subgroups of subjects were selected for both genders based on their overall speaking rates. The articulation rate data derived from 30 selected subjects (SLOW and FAST) revealed he following findings: (a) a significant linear regression function existed between the habitual and maximum rates, (b) significantly different maximum rates were found for the SLOW and he FAST groups, (c) roughly equivalent relative changes from habitual to maximum rate for both SLOW and FAST groups, No significant gender differences were found across different speech tasks and measures of speech rates. The weight of the evidence seems to suggest that neuromuscular constraints play a role in the determination of on individual's habitual speaking rate. Nevertheless, he study did not suggest that either neuromuscular hypotheses or sociolinguistic hypotheses alone con account for the control of individuals' speaking rates due to the unusual ability demonstrated by a few subjects in the SLOW group, to speak at very Fast maximum rates.

Note: Article Tsao YC, Univ Nebraska, Dept Special Educ Commun Disorders, Kearney,NE 68849 USA

Keyword(s): speaking rate; neuromuscular constraints; sociolinguistic considerations; ARTICULATION RATE; SPEECH RATE; TEMPORAL VARIABILITY; CONNECTED-SPEECH; DURATION; CHILDREN; ENGLISH; ADULTS; PERCEPTION; DUTCH

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