Ethnicity and Interjections: Relation of American Origin to Everyday Speech

Abstract

The article explores the influence of ethnicity on the prosody of interjections. The authors focus on the prosodic characteristics of interjections of two ethnic groups (European Americans and African Americans) using the multifunctional computer program PRAAT. Prosodic characteristics such as the fundamental frequency range, tempo, and intensity of speech are considered. The main focus is on the prosodic illustration of interjections of two ethnic groups, as well as on experimental analysis with the help of the multifunctional computer program PRAAT. The authors have defined intensity as a component of prosody. The average maximum and minimum values of the main frequencies, tempo, and intensity of speech are clearly shown. Future research perspectives will concern linguistic and cultural factors that influence the use of vocal cues and refining to better account for the balance between inherent mechanisms and culturally conditioned processes in how people authenticate emotion from vocal expression.