In this paper, a new duration modeling approach for Mandarin speech is proposed. It explicitly takes several major affecting factors as multiplicative companding factors (CFs) and estimates all model parameters by an EM algorithm. Besides, the three basic Tone 3 patterns (i.e., full tone, half tone and sandhi tone) are also properly considered via using three different CFs to separate their aff...

Exploratory variability is essential for sensorimotor learning, but it is not known how and at what timescales it is regulated. We manipulated song learning in zebra finches to experimentally control the requirements for vocal exploration in different parts of their song. We first trained birds to perform a one-syllable song, and once they mastered it, we added a new syllable to the song model....

Bats are among the most gregarious and vocal mammals, with some species demonstrating a diverse repertoire of syllables under a variety of behavioral contexts. Despite extensive characterization of big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) biosonar signals, there have been no detailed studies of adult social vocalizations. We recorded and analyzed social vocalizations and associated behaviors of captive...

To segment continuous speech into its component words, listeners make use of language rhythm; because rhythm differs across languages, so do the segmentation procedures which listeners use. For each of stress-, syllable- and mora-based rhythmic structure, perceptual experiments have led to the discovery of corresponding segmentation procedures. In the case of mora-based rhythm, similar segmenta...

The two- and three-syllable reduplicative babbling of five French-learning and five English-learning infants (0;5 to 1;1) was examined in two ways for intonational differences. The first measure was a categorization into one of five categories (RISING, FALLING, RISE-FALL, FALL-RISE, LEVEL) by expert listeners. The second was the fundamental frequency (F0) from the early, middle and late portion...

Oceanic islands share distinctive characteristics thought to underlie a set of parallel evolutionary trends across and taxonomic groups – including life-history traits, morphology visual signals. To which extent acoustic signals also change in on is less clear. Some important processes associated with insularity, such as founder effects reduced sexual selection, could lead decrease vocal perfor...

Learned vocalizations are a crucial acoustic biosignal conveying individual traits in many species. Songbirds learn song patterns by listening to a tutor song and performing vocal practice during a sensitive developmental period. However, when and how individual differences in song patterns develop remain unknown. Here, we report that individual differences in vocal output exist even at the ear...