Measuring Entrainment in Spontaneous Code-switched Speech: A Comprehensive Study

Core Concepts

Entrainment in code-switched speech is a universal phenomenon with implications for speech technology.

Abstract

This study explores entrainment in spontaneous code-switched speech, finding evidence of entrainment on lexical, acoustic-prosodic, and code-switching features. The research delves into the Bangor Miami corpus, analyzing various dimensions of entrainment and their implications for speech technology.
Abstract

Entrainment is crucial for successful conversations.
Previous research focused on monolingual entrainment.
This study examines entrainment in code-switched speech.
Implications for inclusive and interactive speech technology.
Introduction

Entrainment is subconscious adaptation to conversational partners.
Successful conversations involve entrainment.
Previous studies focused on monolingual entrainment.
This study explores entrainment in code-switched speech.
Data Extraction

CSW ratio = 0.545
CSW ratio = 0.625
CSW ratio = 0.6
CSW ratio = 0.667
Related Work and Research Questions

Entrainment in monolingual domains.
Research questions on entrainment in code-switched speech.
Previous studies on entrainment in text and speech.
Exploration of entrainment in code-switched domains.
Corpus

Bangor Miami corpus of informal conversations.
Mix of monolingual and code-switched English and Spanish.
35 hours of recorded conversation and 242,475 words.
Manual annotations for language identification.
Method

Preprocessing of data for annotation.
Denoising audio data for reliable feature extraction.
Measuring entrainment across feature sets.
Calculating entrainment on lexical, acoustic-prosodic, and CSW features.
Experiments

Interlocutors entrain on lexical features.
Interlocutors entrain on acoustic-prosodic features.
Interlocutors entrain on CSW features.
Gender analysis of entrainment behaviors.
Conclusion

Patterns of entrainment seen in monolingual domains are present in code-switched settings.
Evidence of entrainment on lexical, acoustic-prosodic, and CSW features.
Implications for speech technology applications.
Limitations and future work discussed.

Stats

CSW ratio = 0.545
CSW ratio = 0.625
CSW ratio = 0.6
CSW ratio = 0.667

Quotes

"Entrainment is crucial for successful conversations."
"This study explores entrainment in code-switched speech."
"Implications for inclusive and interactive speech technology."

Key Insights Distilled From

Measuring Entrainment in Spontaneous Code-switched Speech

by Debasmita Bh... at arxiv.org 03-27-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.07703.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How does entrainment in code-switched speech differ from monolingual entrainment?

In code-switched speech, entrainment involves adapting aspects of communication style not only to the conversational partner but also to the different languages being used. This means that speakers entrain not only on linguistic features like diction and syntax but also on code-switching patterns, such as the presence, amount, and strategies of code-switching. In contrast, monolingual entrainment typically focuses on linguistic features within a single language. The study of entrainment in code-switched speech requires considering the complexities of switching between languages and how speakers adapt their communication style accordingly.

What are the implications of entrainment for speech technology advancements?

The study of entrainment in code-switched speech has significant implications for speech technology advancements. By understanding how speakers entrain in multilingual conversations, speech technology can be designed to better adapt to and mimic human-like communication patterns. This can lead to the development of more inclusive and interactive speech technologies that can understand and respond to code-switched speech in a natural and context-appropriate manner. Additionally, insights from entrainment studies can inform the design of voice assistants and dialogue systems that can engage users more effectively by mirroring their communication style.

How can the study of entrainment in code-switched speech be expanded to include more language pairs?

To expand the study of entrainment in code-switched speech to include more language pairs, researchers can conduct cross-linguistic studies involving different language families and language combinations. By analyzing entrainment patterns in various language pairs, researchers can identify universal aspects of entrainment that transcend specific languages. Additionally, researchers can explore the impact of cultural and sociolinguistic factors on entrainment behaviors in code-switched speech. Collaborations with linguists and experts in specific languages can help ensure a comprehensive and diverse study of entrainment across different language pairs.