Shifts in fundamental frequency and articulation resulting from intoxication

Abstract

Two groups of subjects were administered controlled doses of alcohol while breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) measurements were made at regular intervals. They were recorded reading a 30-s passage when they reached preset BrAC windows. Fundamental frequency measurements were calculated and compared for sober (0.00 BrAC) and intoxicated (0.12 BrAC) productions. The number of misarticulations occurring during the readings also were assessed. In the first study, subjects were grouped on the basis of whether they were rated as sounding intoxicated at 0.12 BrAC (ratings were performed by 50 auditors using a 5-pt. scale). Subjects who sounded intoxicated were placed in one group, while those that did not were placed in a second. The first group showed a consistent, but statistically nonsignificant decrease in F0 as a result of intoxication; group 2’s F0 changes were not consistent. In addition, the first group showed a higher mean increase in misarticulations than did group 2. The second population was grouped by drinking level (heavy, medium, or light); none showed a statistically significant change in F0. Moreover, misarticulations increased (nonsignificantly) as drinking level increased. The results will be correlated with data from other studies. [Research supported by NIH.]

The influence of alcoholic intoxication on the fundamental frequency of female and male speakers

“…Some studies reported an increase of the long-term feature (LTF) f0 in intoxicated condition (see, e.g. Klingholz et al, 1988;Hollien et al, 2001), some a decrease (see, e.g., Watanabe et al, 1994;Aldermann et al, 1995). Künzel and Braun (2003) observed a lower LTF f0 when the subjects had a BrAC lower than 0.08%, and a higher f0 at higher BrAC levels.…”

The influence of alcoholic intoxication on the short-time energy function of speech

“…Previous studies about different linguistic and phonetic features regarding intoxication often lack enough speakers or deal with male speakers only and, therefore, are not likely to yield statistically robust results (e.g., Aldermann et al, 1995;Behne et al, 1991;Braun, 1991;Chin and Pisoni, 1997;Cooney et al, 1998;Cummings et al, 1995;Hollien et al, 2001;Klingholz et al, 1988;K€ unzel and Braun, 2003;Levit et al, 2001;Martin and Yuchtman, 1986;Pisoni et al, 1985;Sigmund and Zelinka, 2011;Sobell et al, 1982;Trojan and Kryspin-Exner, 1968). Furthermore, the data on which these studies are based are not available for other researchers, so results cannot be replicated.…”