Acoustic Properties of Anger in Clear and Conversational Speech

Abstract

Purpose:Using clear speech is a communication strategy audiologists commonly recommend to their patients' frequent communication partners. Recent findings indicate that clear speech can sound angrier than conversational speech, which may have a negative impact on interactions.Method:We examined the acoustic characteristics of clear versus conversational speech in 12 talkers selected from the Ferguson Clear Speech Database: six whose clear speech sounded angry and six whose clear speech did not sound angry. Acoustic analyses of median voice fundamental frequency (fomed), voice fundamental frequency range (foIQR), and energy in the spectral band 1000–3150 Hz (mid-frequency energy) were conducted in MATLAB.Results:All three acoustic metrics showed significant speaking style effects, indicating that all were significantly higher in clear speech compared to conversational speech. WhilefoIQR and mid-frequency energy increases in clear speech were similar for talkers whose clear speech sounded angry and talkers whose clear speech did not sound angry, increases infomed were only seen for talkers whose clear speech sounded angry.Conclusion:These findings suggest that elevated voice fundamental frequency contributes to clear speech sounding angry and, to avoid sounding angry, patients' frequent communication partners should be advised to avoid raising their voice pitch when speaking clearly.