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Intelligibility and Acoustic Characteristics of Clear and Conversational Speech in Telugu (A South Indian Dravidian Language)

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Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The overall goal of this study is to examine the intelligibility differences of clear and conversational speech and also to objectively analyze the acoustic properties contributing to these differences. Seventeen post-lingual stable sensory-neural hearing impaired listeners with an age range of 17–40 years were recruited for the study. Forty Telugu sentences spoken by a female Telugu speaker in both clear and conversational speech styles were used as stimuli for the subjects. Results revealed that mean scores of clear speech were higher (mean = 84.5) when compared to conversational speech (mean = 61.4) with an advantage of 23.1% points. Acoustic properties revealed greater fundamental frequency (f0) and intensity, longer duration, higher consonant–vowel ratio (CVR) and greater temporal energy in clear speech.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. R. Rangasayee, Director of Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Secunderabad, for providing an opportunity to carry out this research work. We would also like to acknowledge our participants without whom the study would not have been possible. This study was conducted at Ali Yavar National Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Southern Regional Centre, Secunderabad, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beltone Hearing Care, House No. 2328, Sushant Lok Phase I, Near Gold Soukh Jewellery Mall, Gurgaon, 122001, Haryana, India

    Naresh Durisala

  2. Department of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India

    S. G. R. Prakash

  3. Department of Audiology, Manipal University, Manipal, India

    Arivudai Nambi

  4. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Ridhima Batra

Authors
  1. Naresh Durisala
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  2. S. G. R. Prakash
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  3. Arivudai Nambi
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  4. Ridhima Batra
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Correspondence to Naresh Durisala.

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Durisala, N., Prakash, S.G.R., Nambi, A. et al. Intelligibility and Acoustic Characteristics of Clear and Conversational Speech in Telugu (A South Indian Dravidian Language). Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 63, 165–171 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0241-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12070-011-0241-7

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