Emblem Gestures Improve Perception and Evaluation of Non-native Speech.

Traditionally, much of the attention on the communicative effects of non-native accent has focused on the accent itself rather than how it functions within a more natural context. The present study explores how the bodily context of co-speech emblematic gestures affects perceptual and social evaluation of non-native accent. In two experiments in two different languages, Mandarin and Japanese, we filmed learners performing a short utterance in three different within-subjects conditions: speech alone, culturally familiar gesture, and culturally unfamiliar gesture. Native Mandarin participants watched videos of foreign-accented Mandarin speakers (Experiment 1), and native Japanese participants watched videos of foreign-accented Japanese speakers (Experiment 2). Following each video, native language participants were asked a set of questions targeting speech perception and social impressions of the learners. Results from both experiments demonstrate that familiar-and occasionally unfamiliar-emblems facilitated speech perception and enhanced social evaluations compared to the speech alone baseline. The variability in our findings suggests that gesture may serve varied functions in the perception and evaluation of non-native accent.

Exploring the Effects of Imitating Hand Gestures and Head Nods on L1 and L2 Mandarin Tone Production.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of metaphoric actions-head nods and hand gestures-in producing Mandarin tones for first language (L1) and second language (L2) speakers. Method: In 2 experiments, participants imitated videos of Mandarin tones produced under 3 conditions: (a) speech alone, (b) speech + head nods, and (c) speech + hand gestures. Fundamental frequency was recorded for both L1 (Experiment 1) and L2 (Experiment 2a) speakers, and the output of the L2 speakers was rated for tonal accuracy by 7 native Mandarin judges (Experiment 2b). Results: Experiment 1 showed that 12 L1 speakers' fundamental frequency spectral data did not differ among the 3 conditions. In Experiment 2a, the conditions did not affect the production of 24 English speakers for the most part, but there was some evidence that hand gestures helped Tone 4. In Experiment 2b, native Mandarin judges found limited conditional differences in L2 productions, with Tone 3 showing a slight head nods benefit in a subset of "correct" L2 tokens. Conclusion: Results suggest that metaphoric bodily actions do not influence the lowest levels of L1 speech production in a tonal language and may play a very modest role during preliminary L2 learning.

Effects of hand gestures on auditory learning of second-language vowel length contrasts.

PURPOSE: Research has shown that hand gestures affect comprehension and production of speech at semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic levels for both native language and second language (L2). This study investigated a relatively less explored question: Do hand gestures influence auditory learning of an L2 at the segmental phonology level? METHOD: To examine auditory learning of phonemic vowel length contrasts in Japanese, 88 native English-speaking participants took an auditory test before and after one of the following 4 types of training in which they (a) observed an instructor in a video speaking Japanese words while she made syllabic-rhythm hand gesture, (b) produced this gesture with the instructor, (c) observed the instructor speaking those words and her moraic-rhythm hand gesture, or (d) produced the moraic-rhythm gesture with the instructor. RESULTS: All of the training types yielded similar auditory improvement in identifying vowel length contrast. However, observing the syllabic-rhythm hand gesture yielded the most balanced improvement between word-initial and word-final vowels and between slow and fast speaking rates. CONCLUSIONS: The overall effect of hand gesture on learning of segmental phonology is limited. Implications for theories of hand gesture are discussed in terms of the role it plays at different linguistic levels.

Exploring the role of hand gestures in learning novel phoneme contrasts and vocabulary in a second language.

Co-speech hand gestures are a type of multimodal input that has received relatively little attention in the context of second language learning. The present study explored the role that observing and producing different types of gestures plays in learning novel speech sounds and word meanings in an L2. Naïve English-speakers were taught two components of Japanese-novel phonemic vowel length contrasts and vocabulary items comprised of those contrasts-in one of four different gesture conditions: Syllable Observe, Syllable Produce, Mora Observe, and Mora Produce. Half of the gestures conveyed intuitive information about syllable structure, and the other half, unintuitive information about Japanese mora structure. Within each Syllable and Mora condition, half of the participants only observed the gestures that accompanied speech during training, and the other half also produced the gestures that they observed along with the speech. The main finding was that participants across all four conditions had similar outcomes in two different types of auditory identification tasks and a vocabulary test. The results suggest that hand gestures may not be well suited for learning novel phonetic distinctions at the syllable level within a word, and thus, gesture-speech integration may break down at the lowest levels of language processing and learning.

Cross-language perception of Japanese vowel length contrasts: comparison of listeners from different first language backgrounds.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research was to compare the perception of Japanese vowel length contrasts by 4 groups of listeners who differed in their familiarity with length contrasts in their first language (L1; i.e., American English, Italian, Japanese, and Thai). Of the 3 nonnative groups, native Thai listeners were expected to outperform American English and Italian listeners, because vowel length is contrastive in their L1. Native Italian listeners were expected to demonstrate a higher level of accuracy for length contrasts than American English listeners, because the former are familiar with consonant (but not vowel) length contrasts (i.e., singleton vs. geminate) in their L1. METHOD: A 2-alternative forced-choice AXB discrimination test that included 125 trials was administered to all the participants, and the listeners' discrimination accuracy (d') was reported. RESULTS: As expected, Japanese listeners were more accurate than all 3 nonnative groups in their discrimination of Japanese vowel length contrasts. The 3 nonnative groups did not differ from one another in their discrimination accuracy despite varying experience with length contrasts in their L1. Only Thai listeners were more accurate in their length discrimination when the target vowel was long than when it was short. CONCLUSION: Being familiar with vowel length contrasts in L1 may affect the listeners' cross-language perception, but it does not guarantee that their L1 experience automatically results in efficient processing of length contrasts in unfamiliar languages. The extent of success may be related to how length contrasts are phonetically implemented in listeners' L1.

Production of single and geminate stops in Japanese three- and four-mora words.

This study examined the durational structure of single and geminate stop distinction produced in three- and four-mora words of Japanese, (C(1))V(1)(C(2))C(2)V(2)X [(C(2))C(2) = the contrasting consonants; X = a CV mora, the moraic nasal, or a long vowel as part of V(2)]. The questions addressed were how factors such as speaking rate, segmental variability, and moraic composition of words affected the stop quantity distinction in words longer than well-studied disyllabic words, and whether there exists an invariant parameter that classified these two stop categories. Results showed that all of those factors systematically affected the duration of the contrasting stop closure, the unit of [(C(1))V(1)(C(2))C(2)V(2)], and the entire three- and four-mora words. However, the durational units of moras and words were well-structured, and the ratio of the contrasting stop closure to the [(C(1))V(1)(C(2))C(2)V(2)] unit, as well as the ratio of the closure to the entire word, were found to be invariant in indicating the stop quantity distinction. These results support the theory of relational acoustic invariance [Pickett et al., Phonetica 56, 135-157 (1999)] on the part of production. Furthermore, the results provide insight into different versions of Japanese mora hypothesis [Han, The Study of Sounds 10, 65-80 (1962); Port et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 81(5), 1574-1585 (1987)], which have been under debate for five decades.

Methylation analysis of circadian clock gene promoters in forensic autopsy specimens.

DNA methylation in gene promoter regions influences gene expression. Circadian clock genes play an important role in the formation of a biological clock and aberrant methylation of these genes contributes to several disorders. In this study, we examined forensic autopsy specimens to determine whether DNA methylation status in the promoter regions of nine circadian clock genes (Per1, Per2, Per3, Cry1, Cry2, Bmal1, Clock, Tim, and Ck1e) is related to a change in acquired diathesis and/or causes of death. Methylation-specific PCR and direct sequencing methods revealed that the promoters of Per1, Cry2, Bmal1, Clock, and Ck1e were unmethylated in all the forensic autopsy specimens, while the promoters of Per2, Per3, Cry1, and Tim were partially methylated. Methylation status varied between individuals and between tissues in the same patient. A detailed analysis of methylation patterns in the Cry1 promoter region revealed that the patterns also varied between individuals and the Cry1 promoter had highly methylated patterns in two cases that had been exposed to methamphetamine. These results suggest that the methylation status of clock gene promoters varies between individuals. Methamphetamine use may influence methylation in the Cry1 gene promoter region and disturb circadian rhythmicity.

Perception and production boundaries between single and geminate stops in Japanese.

The theory of relational acoustic invariance [Pickett, E. R., et al. (1999). Phonetica 56, 135-157] was tested with the Japanese stop quantity distinction in disyllables spoken at various rates. The questions were whether the perceptual boundary between the two phonemic categories of single and geminate stops is invariant across rates, and whether there is a close correspondence between the perception and production boundaries. The durational ratio of stop closure to word (where the "word" was defined as disyllables) was previously found to be an invariant parameter that classified the two categories in production, but the present study found that this ratio varied with different speaking rates in perception. However, regression and discriminant analyses of perception and production data showed that treating stop closure as a function of word duration with an intercept term represented the perception and production boundaries very well. This result indicated that the durational ratio of adjusted stop closure (i.e., closure with an added constant) to the word was invariant and distinguished the two phonemic categories clearly. Taken together, the results support the relational acoustic invariance theory, and help refine the theory with regard to exactly what form 'invariance' can take.

Effects of lips and hands on auditory learning of second-language speech sounds.

PURPOSE: Previous research has found that auditory training helps native English speakers to perceive phonemic vowel length contrasts in Japanese, but their performance did not reach native levels after training. Given that multimodal information, such as lip movement and hand gesture, influences many aspects of native language processing, the authors examined whether multimodal input helps to improve native English speakers' ability to perceive Japanese vowel length contrasts. METHOD: Sixty native English speakers participated in 1 of 4 types of training: (a) audio-only; (b) audio-mouth; (c) audio-hands; and (d) audio-mouth-hands. Before and after training, participants were given phoneme perception tests that measured their ability to identify short and long vowels in Japanese (e.g., /kato/ vs. /kato/). RESULTS: Although all 4 groups improved from pre- to posttest (replicating previous research), the participants in the audio-mouth condition improved more than those in the audio-only condition, whereas the 2 conditions involving hand gestures did not. CONCLUSIONS: Seeing lip movements during training significantly helps learners to perceive difficult second-language phonemic contrasts, but seeing hand gestures does not. The authors discuss possible benefits and limitations of using multimodal information in second-language phoneme learning.

Effects of speaking rate and vowel length on formant frequency displacement in Japanese.

This study examined effects of phonemic vowel length and speaking rate, two factors that affect vowel duration, on the first and second formants of all vowels in Japanese. The aim was to delineate the aspects of formant displacement that are governed by the physiological proclivity of vowel production shared across languages, and the aspects that reveal language-specific phenomena. Acoustic analysis revealed that the phonemic long vowels occupied a more peripheral portion of the F1 x F2 vowel space than the phonemic short vowels (effect of vowel length), but effects of speaking rate were less clear. This was because of the significant interactions of the two effects: the formants of phonemic short vowels were more affected by speaking rates than the phonemic long vowels. Regression analyses between F2 and duration revealed that formant displacement occurs when vowels are less than 200 ms. Similarities and differences found for Japanese and English are discussed in terms of physiological proclivity of vowel production versus language-specific phonological encoding.

Discovery and biological profile of isoindolinone derivatives as novel metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 antagonists: a potential treatment for psychotic disorders.

We describe here the discovery and biological profile of a series of isoindolinone derivatives as developed mGluR1 antagonists. Our combined strategy of rapid parallel synthesis and conventional medicinal optimization successfully led to N-cyclopropyl 22 and N-isopropyl isoindolinone analogs 21 and 23 with improved in vivo DMPK profiles. Moreover the most advanced analog 23 showed an oral antipsychotic-like effect at a dose of 1mg/kg in an animal model.

Discovery and in vitro and in vivo profiles of 4-fluoro-N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-N-methylbenzamide as novel class of an orally active metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) antagonist.

We identified 4-fluoro-N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-N-methylbenzamide 27 as a potent mGluR1 antagonist. The compound possessed excellent subtype selectivity and good PK profile in rats. It also demonstrated relatively potent antipsychotic-like effects in several animal models. Suitable for development as a PET tracer, compound 27 would have great potential for elucidation of mGluR1 functions in human.

Discovery and biological profile of 4-(1-aryltriazol-4-yl)-tetrahydropyridines as an orally active new class of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 antagonist.

We describe here the discovery and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a series of 4-(1-Aryltriazol-4-yl)-tetrahydropyridines as novel mGluR1 antagonists. Our extensive chemical modification of lead compound 2 successfully led to fluoropyridine analogs 7j and 1 with improved in vivo antagonistic activities. Among the evaluated compounds, chemically stable urea analog 1 showed oral antagonistic activity at dose ranges of 10-30mg/kg in an animal model.

Training native English speakers to identify Japanese vowel length contrast with sentences at varied speaking rates.

Native English speakers were trained to identify Japanese vowel length in three types of training differing in sentential speaking rate: slow-only, fast-only, and slow-fast. Following Pisoni and Lively's high phonetic variability hypothesis [Pisoni, D. B., and Lively, S. E., Speech Perception and Linguistic Experience, 433-459 (1995)], higher stimulus variability by means of training with two rates was hypothesized to aid learners in adapting to speech rate variation more effectively than training with only one rate. Trained participants identified the length of the second vowel of disyllables, short or long, embedded in a sentence of the respective rate, and received immediate feedback. The three trained groups' abilities before and after training were examined with tests containing sentences of slow, normal, and fast rates, and were compared with those of a control that was not trained. A robust effect of slow-fast training, a marginal effect of slow-only training, but no significant effect of fast-only training were found in the overall test scores. Slow-fast and slow-only training showed small advantages over fast-only training on the fast-rate test scores, while effects for all three training types were found on the slow- and normal-rate test scores. The degree to which the results support the high phonetic variability hypothesis is discussed.

Sensitive analysis of aconitine, hypaconitine, mesaconitine and jesaconitine in human body fluids and Aconitum tubers by LC/ESI-TOF-MS.

The Aconitum species (Ranunculaceae) are widely distributed in northern Asia and North America. Their roots are popularly used in herbal medicines in China and Japan. Many cases of accidental, suicidal and homicidal intoxication with this plant have been reported; some of these were fatal because the toxicity of Aconitum is very high. It is thus important to detect and quantify Aconitum alkaloids in body fluids, with high sensitivity. We have developed a simple and sensitive method for measuring four kinds of Aconitum alkaloids (aconitine, hypaconitine, jesaconitine and mesaconitine) by LC/electrospray (ESI)-time-of-flight (TOF)-MS. For all of them, only molecular ions were observed at an orifice voltage of 75 V; at 135 V, base peaks corresponding to [M - 60 + H]+ ions were observed. These four compounds and methyllycaconitine (internal standard) in human plasma samples were purified by solid-phase extraction. The four extracted compounds were completely separated in mass chromatograms; the calibration curves showed good linearity in the range 10-300 ng/ml, and the detection limits were estimated to be 0.2-0.5 ng/ml. Using our method, we also determined the amounts of these compounds in tuber samples. The present method is applicable in clinical and forensic toxicology.

Effects of speaking rate on the single/geminate stop distinction in Japanese.

This study addressed an issue in the theory of acoustic invariance. The question was whether an invariant acoustic property exists for distinguishing Japanese single and geminate voiceless stops across rates and speakers. Four native Japanese speakers produced disyllabic words with single and geminate stops (e.g., /kako/ and /kak:o/) spoken in a carrier sentence at three speaking rates. Durations of sentences, words, stop closures, vowels preceding the contrasting stops, and voice onset times were measured. Ratios of geminate to single stop closures, geminate words to singleton words, closures to preceding vowels, and closures to words were calculated. The effect of rate on closure duration was to yield overlap between the singleton and geminate categories, and to lengthen geminate closures more than single closures as rate decreased. However, the ratio of geminate to single closure duration was unaffected by rate. Furthermore, the ratio of closure to word duration (0.35 as an optimal boundary) best classified all singleton and geminate tokens with 95.7%-98% accuracy. Thus, in spite of overlap in absolute closure duration between single and geminate voiceless stops, there is a relationally invariant measure that divides the two phonemic categories across rates and speakers, supporting the theory of relational acoustic invariance. co ustical Society of America.

Training native English speakers to perceive Japanese length contrasts in word versus sentence contexts.

This study investigated whether native speakers of American English with no knowledge of Japanese could learn to perceive Japanese vowel and consonant length distinctions through auditory training with immediate feedback. One group of participants was trained to identify the number of moras in Japanese words spoken in isolation (word training), and another group in sentences (sentence training). Trained groups' pretest and post-test scores in the words-in-isolation context (word context) and the words-in-sentences context (sentence context) were compared to those of an untrained control group. The questions addressed were whether there was an overall effect of training, and whether there were differential effects of two types of training. Both trained groups showed similar improvement in their overall test scores. The results suggested that learning in one context generalized to the other. However, an advantage of sentence training over word training was found: at the post-test, there was a greater difference between the scores of the two contexts for the word-training group than for the sentence-training group. The results are discussed in terms of the factors that might contribute to the differences in second language learning between the word and the sentence contexts.