Language Discrimination Using Low-pass Filtered Songs: Perception of Different Rhythm Classes

As a characterization of language rhythm typology, several indices have been proposed. Among them are nPVI, rPVI, %V, ΔV, and ΔC. Investigations of their usefulness as indicators of language rhythm classes are generally based on production data. In this paper, a perceptual experiment is reported using low-pass filtered songs sung in English and Japanese. The aim was to examine which index best reflects the discrimination between the two different rhythm classes under the conditions in which segmental and pitch cues are reduced while rhythmic properties are preserved. The result showed that %V is the most reliable index for the discrimination of English and Japanese.