Intonation and EmotionIntonation and Emotion

Verena Theusner, Felix Verena Theusner, Felix Wucherpfennig und Sascha Wucherpfennig und Sascha

GriffithsGriffiths

HypothesisHypothesis

The intonation of a speaker is extremely The intonation of a speaker is extremely influenced by her or his emotionsinfluenced by her or his emotions

Intonation varies with regard to duration, Intonation varies with regard to duration, intensity and frequency of an utterance intensity and frequency of an utterance depending on emotions such as stress or depending on emotions such as stress or fearfear

Method/DataMethod/Data

We cut out one sentence repeated several We cut out one sentence repeated several times within a dialogue scene of a movie times within a dialogue scene of a movie ((Jerry Maguire 1996Jerry Maguire 1996) )

The speaker is extraordinarily under The speaker is extraordinarily under pressurepressure

We compared different versions of the We compared different versions of the same utterance with special regard to the same utterance with special regard to the acoustic propertiesacoustic properties

Show me the money

H L H L

Time (s)0 0.892948

Our Example:Our Example:

Show me the moneyShow me the money

Show me the MoneyShow me the Money

The Context of the Cut-outs The Context of the Cut-outs

The dialogue, which contains the sentence The dialogue, which contains the sentence we worked with, is a telephone call we worked with, is a telephone call between the protagonists Jerry (Tom between the protagonists Jerry (Tom Cruise) and Rod (Cuba Gooding jr.)Cruise) and Rod (Cuba Gooding jr.)

Jerry had been a sports manager taking care of Jerry had been a sports manager taking care of “the worlds greatest athletes alive”“the worlds greatest athletes alive”

He has lost all but one client during the course of He has lost all but one client during the course of this telephone call with Rod, an American this telephone call with Rod, an American Football PlayerFootball Player

He is disappointed of having lost his clients He is disappointed of having lost his clients

Additionally he has to fear loosing Rod, too, and Additionally he has to fear loosing Rod, too, and therefore is becoming more and more nervoustherefore is becoming more and more nervous

But are these words always the But are these words always the same?same?

Why not?Why not?

What changes?What changes?

Why does this change?Why does this change?

What does a change imply?What does a change imply?

DataData

DurationDuration

IntensityIntensity

FrequencyFrequency

Jerry3Jerry3

Jerry7Jerry7

Track DurationRod 1 0,862Rod 2 6,848

Jerry 1 0,842Jerry 2 0,895Jerry 3 0,737Jerry 4 0,833Jerry 5 0,868Jerry 6 1,958Jerry 7 3,377Jerry 8 2,07Jerry 9 2,93Maximum 3,377Minimum 0,737

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

Reihe1

Jerry4

Jerry9

Track Frequency (high) Frequency (low)Rod 1 3549,8 1793,7Rod 2 4975,8 186,86

Jerry 1 1812,5 1417,9Jerry 2 3047,8 783,09Jerry 3 3904,6 1730,6Jerry 4 3904,6 3558Jerry 5 3526,5 2707,3Jerry 6 4975,8 722,46Jerry 7 4975,8 1006Jerry 8 4975,8 722,46Jerry 9 4975,8 1195

Minimum 1812,5 722,46Maximum 4975,8 2707,3

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Jerr

y 1

Jerr

y 2

Jerr

y 3

Jerr

y 4

Jerr

y 5

Jerr

y 6

Jerr

y 7

Jerr

y 8

Jerr

y 9

Reihe1

Reihe2

Jerry5

Jerry9

Track Intensity (peak)Rod 1 82,82Rod 2 86,38

Jerry 1 80,46Jerry 2 86,39Jerry 3 87,86Jerry 4 87,82Jerry 5 83,45Jerry 6 86,49Jerry 7 80,4Jerry 8 81,31Jerry 9 86,73

Minimum 80,4Maximum 87,86

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

Jerr

y 1

Jerr

y 2

Jerr

y 3

Jerr

y 4

Jerr

y 5

Jerr

y 6

Jerr

y 7

Jerr

y 8

Jerr

y 9

Reihe1

ConclusionConclusion

Examining the data carefully demonstrates Examining the data carefully demonstrates that the increase of the speaker´s stress that the increase of the speaker´s stress goes together with the increase of the goes together with the increase of the duration and the rise of the intensity and duration and the rise of the intensity and frequency of his utterances. frequency of his utterances. From this we can draw the conclusion that From this we can draw the conclusion that the speaker´s intonation is deeply the speaker´s intonation is deeply influenced by his or her emotions at the influenced by his or her emotions at the moment of speaking. moment of speaking.

For DiscussionFor Discussion

The results, especially those concerning The results, especially those concerning the frequency, are not ideal and must be the frequency, are not ideal and must be treated carefully, because in all cut-outs treated carefully, because in all cut-outs there is constant background noise there is constant background noise We only examined the relationship We only examined the relationship between stress and intonation. What about between stress and intonation. What about other emotions? other emotions? Are we dealing with a genuine situation or Are we dealing with a genuine situation or is it acting? is it acting?

That’s all folksThat’s all folks

How to Handle Speech WS 02-03How to Handle Speech WS 02-03