A phonetic study of Zootopia characters’ voices in Brazilian Portuguese dubbing: the role of stereotypes

Abstract

This work comprises an experimental investigation approach of expressive speech that integrates methodological procedures of perceptual and acoustic analyses. As the object of this work, we have focused on voice quality and vocal dynamics. Speech samples from the four main personality-distinct characters in the animated feature film “Zootopia” dubbed by Brazilian voice actors have been analysed. Due to the expressive function of voice quality, we have posed the following question: what types of voice quality and vocal dynamics settings were used by the voice actors in the Brazilian dubbing of “Zootopia” to compose the vocal profiles of the characters? Perceptual evaluation of the 54 speech stimuli was performed using the Vocal Profile Analysis protocol (Laver & Mackenzie Beck, 2007). Acoustic measures were automatically extracted using the ExpressionEvaluator script (Barbosa, 2008) for PRAAT. The profiles for each of the four characters were composed based on the psychological traits described in the film script. The results of the acoustic analysis, the perceptual analysis of voice quality and vocal dynamics settings were correlated using the MFA (Multiple Factor Analysis) method in the R environment based on 40 variables (quantitative and qualitative) and it turned out that the speech stimuli were distributed in 6 clusters according to the variables analysed. The quantitative variables that presented the highest correlation percentage were: Standard Deviation of f0 Derivative, Standard Deviation of Spectral Tilt, f0 Median. The qualitative variables that presented the highest correlation percentage were: Lowered Larynx, Lip Rounding, Breathy Voice and Minimised Pitch Range. The research has presented evidence in favor of the symbolic use of phonic matter and contributions to the understanding of how vocal stereotypes are established.

Acoustics of persuasion: a systematic review of prosodic features on the communicative attitudes of confidence

“…In a study with the objective of verifying the adjustments of voice quality and vocal dynamics performed by voice actors in an activity, it was noticed, through the application of a questionnaire, that the spectral inclination emerged was characterized as breathiness in the expression of persuasion and tension, in the contexts of conflict between the characters, which differs from the aspect of neutrality found in the other study cited here (Crochiquia, et al 2020). It was shown that the listener can consider the relevance of pauses on several levels, such as silence and sound relation, elocution time, location, and form and duration of the silences, as they can be considered paralinguistic cues related to the stress strategy of the sentence related to persuasion.…”

Multimodal impressions of voice quality settings: the role of vocal and visual symbolism

“…In female participants, this kind of phonation, which is produced with airflow escaping through the glottis, produces lower harmonics-to-noise ratios. In an analysis of dubbing voices, Crochiquia et al (2020) found that one of the male characters whose voice was characterized by a whispery voice quality setting was judged pleasant and his personality was considered charming.…”

Impacto do gênero na percepção dos ouvintes sobre a fala de apresentadores de radiojornalismo

“…As vozes, construídas a partir das características de personalidade descritas no roteiro, revelam os estereótipos vocais associados ao tamanho, ao gênero e à índole dos personagens retratados. (CROCHIQUIA et al, 2020) MORALES, Tania Calderaro; MADUREIRA, Sandra; SILVA, Marta de Assumpção de Andrada e; FERREIRA, Léslie Piccolotto. Impacto do gênero na percepção dos ouvintes sobre a fala de apresentadores de radiojornalismo.…”