The role of 'given' and 'new in the production and perception of vowel contrasts in read text and in spontaneous speech

Studies on the role of 'given' and 'new' information in speech communication normally concentrate mainly on prosadie aspects like duration and fundamental frequency. Except for one study, no significant differences between 'given' and 'new' words are found. ln our study we included, unlike the other studies, spectral measurements tagether with duration and FO for vowels occurring in (the same) 'given' and 'new' words, in read sentences and in conversation. A significant difference in distance to the centroid and in FO could be demonstrated between 'given' and 'new' in conversation, but for duration no significant effects could be observed. Whether the spectral differences play a role in perception too, is subject of further research.