Diachronic Analysis of Vocal Characteristics in French Audiovisual Media Across Gender and Age

المفاهيم الأساسية

Voices in French audiovisual media have shown a tendency to lower in pitch over time, independent of gender, while female voices exhibit a decrease in pitch with age that is not observed in male voices.

الملخص

This study presents a diachronic acoustic analysis of 1,023 speakers from French media archives, spanning four time periods (1955/56, 1975/76, 1995/96, 2015/16) and four age groups (20-35, 36-50, 51-65, >65) for both genders.
The key findings are:

Fundamental frequency (F0) and vocal tract length (VTL) were estimated from the speech samples using a multi-algorithm approach to ensure robust measurements on the heterogeneous data.

Base-F0, calculated as the 7th decile of the F0 distribution, showed a major difference between genders (about 9 semitones) and a decrease with age for female but not male voices.

The Age:Period interaction revealed that while base-F0 was increasing with age in the 1950s, it showed a tendency to decrease with age in the later periods (1995-96 and 2015-16), independent of gender.

VTL, estimated from the first four formants, showed a significant effect of gender (1.7 cm difference between females and males) and a modest but significant increase over the time periods, with a small increase with age.

These results suggest a lowering of voice pitch in French media over time, potentially reflecting changes in social norms or vocal habits, which warrants further investigation. The methodology used to extract robust acoustic features from heterogeneous archival data provides a framework for similar diachronic studies of voice characteristics.

الإحصائيات

The fundamental frequency (F0) and the first four formants (F1-4) were estimated from the speech samples.
The base-F0 value was calculated to estimate the vocal register.
The average vocal tract length was estimated from the formant frequencies.

اقتباسات

"Vocal characteristics are an important part of identity, with our voices indicating our gender and other social constructs."
"Some studies also claimed that voices may have changed across time (for populations of comparable age); this was claimed for female voices, for example in Australia."

الرؤى الأساسية المستخلصة من

Evolution of Voices in French Audiovisual Media Across Genders and Age in a Diachronic Perspective

by Albe... في arxiv.org 04-26-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.16104.pdf

استفسارات أعمق

What social, cultural, or technological factors may have contributed to the observed changes in vocal characteristics over time in French media?

The observed changes in vocal characteristics over time in French media can be attributed to a combination of social, cultural, and technological factors.

Social Factors: Changes in societal norms and values regarding gender roles and age expectations may have influenced how voices are perceived and portrayed in the media. Shifts in attitudes towards gender equality and age diversity could have led to changes in the representation of voices across different demographics.

Cultural Factors: Cultural trends and preferences play a significant role in shaping vocal characteristics in media. Evolving cultural norms, aesthetic preferences, and linguistic trends can impact the way voices are presented and perceived. For example, changes in popular speech patterns or vocal styles may influence the way individuals speak in media contexts.

Technological Factors: Advances in recording technology and audio processing tools have likely influenced the way voices are captured, edited, and presented in media. Improvements in voice analysis software, sound editing techniques, and broadcasting equipment may have contributed to the observed changes in vocal characteristics over time.

Media Representation: The representation of voices in media, including the types of voices selected for different roles or programs, can also shape the perception of vocal characteristics. Media outlets may have specific preferences for certain types of voices based on audience preferences, industry standards, or cultural trends.

Overall, a combination of social, cultural, and technological factors interact to influence the evolution of vocal characteristics in French media over time.

What social, cultural, or technological factors may have contributed to the observed changes in vocal characteristics over time in French media?

The diachronic trends in French media regarding vocal characteristics can be compared to those observed in other languages or cultural contexts to gain a broader understanding of how voices evolve over time.

Cross-Cultural Variations: Different languages and cultures may have unique norms and preferences regarding vocal characteristics. Comparing diachronic trends in French media with those in other languages can reveal common patterns or distinct differences in how voices change over time.

Historical Context: Historical events, social movements, and cultural shifts can impact vocal characteristics in diverse ways across languages and cultures. By examining diachronic trends in vocal characteristics globally, researchers can identify common themes or unique features that reflect broader societal changes.

Technological Influence: Technological advancements in audio recording and analysis have a universal impact on how voices are captured and studied. Comparing the use of technology in different cultural contexts can provide insights into how tools and methods shape the understanding of vocal characteristics over time.

Gender and Age Representation: The representation of gender and age in media varies across cultures, influencing the portrayal of voices. By comparing diachronic trends in vocal characteristics, researchers can explore how gender and age stereotypes are reflected and challenged in different cultural contexts.

By examining diachronic trends in vocal characteristics across languages and cultural contexts, researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how voices evolve over time and the factors that contribute to these changes.

Could the changes in vocal characteristics reflect broader shifts in societal perceptions and representations of gender and age in the public sphere?

The changes in vocal characteristics observed in French media over time likely reflect broader shifts in societal perceptions and representations of gender and age in the public sphere.

Gender Representation: The differences in vocal characteristics between genders, as highlighted in the study, may mirror changing attitudes towards gender roles and stereotypes. Shifts towards gender equality and diversity in media representation could influence how voices are portrayed and perceived across different genders.

Age Diversity: The variations in vocal characteristics across age groups suggest a nuanced understanding of how age is represented in the public sphere. Changes in societal attitudes towards aging, intergenerational dynamics, and age inclusivity may be reflected in the way voices of different age groups are presented in media.

Media Influence: Media plays a significant role in shaping societal perceptions of gender and age. The portrayal of voices in media content, such as news programs, entertainment shows, and advertisements, can influence how individuals are perceived based on their vocal characteristics.

Cultural Norms: Cultural norms and values regarding gender and age can impact the representation of voices in the public sphere. Evolving cultural trends, linguistic practices, and aesthetic preferences may contribute to the changes in vocal characteristics observed over time.

Overall, the changes in vocal characteristics in French media likely align with broader societal shifts in gender and age representations, reflecting changing attitudes, values, and norms in the public sphere.