The positions of individual vowels in the acoustics vowels space often change over time in languages of which Asante-Twi a dialect of Akan is not an exception. Sound changes in languages are typically associated with social factors like age, gender, social class. This study will explore the changes in the location of vowels as produced by four generational of speakers of Asante-Twi speakers. Fant (1966) also posits that since the length of the vocal track determines the overall patterns change, age and depend on gender. The current study will therefore investigate whether generational differences can affect vowel quality by comparing speakers of Asante-Twi with ages 6-14, 19-24, 40-50 and 60+.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background of the Language (Akan)
3. The Vowel System of Akan
4. Statement of the Problem
5. Objectives of the Research
6. Related Studies
7. Methodology
8. DATA ANALYSIS
9. Discussion / Results
10. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of generational differences on vowel quality among speakers of the Asante-Twi dialect of Akan. By comparing four distinct age groups, the research seeks to provide empirical data on how vowel acoustics, specifically formant structures, evolve across generations and whether these variations reflect shifts in phonetic articulation.
- Acoustic analysis of Asante-Twi vowel phonemes across four generational cohorts.
- Examination of generational impact on formant frequency values (F1 and F2).
- Comparison of vowel spaces to identify potential shifts in vowel quality.
- Evaluation of age-related patterns in vowel production using PRAAT software.
Excerpt from the Book
Statement of the Problem
Description of vowels qualities have been mostly impressionistic and based on traditional tongue description and this has led the use of similar symbols to represent different vowel sound in different languages. The description of Asante-Twi vowels has also been impressionistic. Some researchers have been done on Akan vowels qualities. Prominent among these include Ladefoged (1964) who worked on sixty-one West African languages including Asante-Twi, his focus was on vowel quality and vowel harmony. Lomotey (2008) also did a cross-dialectal study of Akan vowels using acoustic measurement. However, her research was not centered on how generational difference affects vowel quality although she recorded different ages for the study.
This creates a vacuum which needs to be filled. It is upon this that the researcher seeks to delve into this topic to strategically and systematically come out with empirical data to address the issue of how generational difference affects vowel quality by comparing speakers of Asante-Twi with ages 6-14, 19-24, 40+ and 60+.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the research rationale and context regarding how social factors like age and gender influence the acoustic structure of vowels in Asante-Twi.
Background of the Language (Akan): Details the linguistic classification of the Akan language within the Niger-Congo family and its significance in Ghanaian society.
The Vowel System of Akan: Outlines the fifteen vowel phonemes of Akan, distinguishing between oral and nasalized vowels.
Statement of the Problem: Identifies the lack of empirical acoustic data regarding generational shifts in Asante-Twi vowel quality as the motivation for this study.
Objectives of the Research: Defines the research aim of understanding how generational differences affect vowel quality among Asante-Twi speakers.
Related Studies: Reviews existing literature on cross-generational and cross-dialectal phonetic variations in other languages.
Methodology: Describes the sampling of eight native speakers across four age groups and the procedure for recording vowel production in a controlled carrier frame.
DATA ANALYSIS: Presents the measured formant frequencies (F1 and F2) and visual scatter plots for each generational cohort.
Discussion / Results: Analyzes the variation in vowel heights and positioning across age groups based on the collected mean plots.
Conclusion: Summarizes the study's findings, confirming that vowel height differs significantly across generational lines.
Keywords
Asante-Twi, Akan, Vowel quality, Generational difference, Formant frequencies, Acoustic phonetics, PRAAT, Articulation, Dialectology, Speech variation, Vowel space, Sociophonetics, Language change, Ghana, Oral vowels
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the acoustic analysis of Asante-Twi vowels to determine if and how generational differences influence the quality and positioning of vowels in the vowel space.
Which linguistic variety is investigated in this study?
The study specifically investigates the Asante-Twi dialect of the Akan language, spoken primarily in Ghana.
What is the core research question?
The research asks: How does generational difference affect vowel quality among the Asante-Twi dialects of Akan?
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The study utilizes a quantitative approach by measuring first and second formant frequencies (F1 and F2) of ten oral vowels from speakers across four age generations using PRAAT software.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the linguistic background of Akan, the collection of acoustic data from participants, the subsequent analysis of formant measurements, and a discussion of the observed variations across age groups.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Asante-Twi, vowel quality, generational difference, formant frequencies, and acoustic phonetics.
How were the respondents for this study selected?
Eight native Asante-Twi speakers were purposively sampled, ensuring an even distribution across four age categories: 6-14, 19-24, 40-50, and 60+ years.
What role does the PRAAT software play in the research?
PRAAT software is used for the detailed acoustic analysis of recordings, specifically to measure formant values on spectrograms and to segment the data phoneme-wise.
How does this study differ from previous research by Lomotey (2008)?
While Lomotey performed a cross-dialectal study, this research specifically focuses on the generational aspect of vowel quality change, filling a identified gap in the literature.
What conclusion does the author draw regarding generational speech?
The author concludes that there are clear distinctions in vowel height among children, youth, and adults, confirming that vowel production is significantly influenced by age.
- Quote paper
- Job Anane (Author), 2017, Experimental phonetics. Changes in the location of vowels, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/431134
