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A single formant explicates the ubiquity of “meow”

Ekström, Axel G. ; Cros Vila, Laura ; Schötz, Susanne LU orcid and Edlund, Jens (2024) 4th International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots p.74-78
Abstract (Swedish)
Across languages, the species–typical vocalization by domes-
tic cats (Felis catus silvestris) is transcribed similarly, typically
corresponding to [miau:] or [waU:]. Such consistent and ubiqui-
tous cross-linguistic transcription is apparently onomatopoetic.
However, in humans, these qualities make unique use of the
tongue; in comparison, most nonhuman mammals do not ap-
pear to employ their tongues while vocalizing. The purpose of
this work was to explore whether tube models modeled after
the buccolabial oral tract morphology of the domestic cat, may
be used to reverse engineer the apparent diphthong-like quality
typically perceived in cat meows (the “au” in meow). For cats
specifically, the... (More)
Across languages, the species–typical vocalization by domes-
tic cats (Felis catus silvestris) is transcribed similarly, typically
corresponding to [miau:] or [waU:]. Such consistent and ubiqui-
tous cross-linguistic transcription is apparently onomatopoetic.
However, in humans, these qualities make unique use of the
tongue; in comparison, most nonhuman mammals do not ap-
pear to employ their tongues while vocalizing. The purpose of
this work was to explore whether tube models modeled after
the buccolabial oral tract morphology of the domestic cat, may
be used to reverse engineer the apparent diphthong-like quality
typically perceived in cat meows (the “au” in meow). For cats
specifically, the short vocal tract is likely a causal factor, as the
contribution of higher formants to vowel quality in the front–
to–back dimension is significantly reduced. Results of com-
putational models and perception tests suggest that the shift in
apparent vowel quality may be driven by F1, corresponding in
our model to raising of the mandible. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
animal vocalization, vowel quality, vocal tract, speech acoustics, source/filter theory
host publication
Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots : VIHAR 2024 - VIHAR 2024
editor
Miron, M and Marxer, R
article number
74
pages
74 - 78
conference name
4th International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots
conference location
Kos, Greece
conference dates
2024-09-06 - 2024-09-09
ISBN
ISBN: 978-2-9562029-3-6
project
Cat-human communication: vocal, visual and tactile signals
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0881a4af-056b-44ae-89f2-7a5eb68f5a37
alternative location
http://vihar-2024.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2024_proceedings.pdf
date added to LUP
2024-10-16 08:37:42
date last changed
2025-04-04 15:08:32
@inproceedings{0881a4af-056b-44ae-89f2-7a5eb68f5a37,
  abstract     = {{Across languages, the species–typical vocalization by domes-<br/>tic cats (Felis catus silvestris) is transcribed similarly, typically<br/>corresponding to [miau:] or [waU:]. Such consistent and ubiqui-<br/>tous cross-linguistic transcription is apparently onomatopoetic.<br/>However, in humans, these qualities make unique use of the<br/>tongue; in comparison, most nonhuman mammals do not ap-<br/>pear to employ their tongues while vocalizing. The purpose of<br/>this work was to explore whether tube models modeled after<br/>the buccolabial oral tract morphology of the domestic cat, may<br/>be used to reverse engineer the apparent diphthong-like quality<br/>typically perceived in cat meows (the “au” in meow). For cats<br/>specifically, the short vocal tract is likely a causal factor, as the<br/>contribution of higher formants to vowel quality in the front–<br/>to–back dimension is significantly reduced. Results of com-<br/>putational models and perception tests suggest that the shift in<br/>apparent vowel quality may be driven by F1, corresponding in<br/>our model to raising of the mandible.}},
  author       = {{Ekström, Axel G. and Cros Vila, Laura and Schötz, Susanne and Edlund, Jens}},
  booktitle    = {{Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Vocal Interactivity in-and-between Humans, Animals and Robots : VIHAR 2024}},
  editor       = {{Miron, M and Marxer, R}},
  isbn         = {{ISBN: 978-2-9562029-3-6}},
  keywords     = {{animal vocalization; vowel quality; vocal tract; speech acoustics; source/filter theory}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{74--78}},
  title        = {{A single formant explicates the ubiquity of “meow”}},
  url          = {{http://vihar-2024.vihar.org/assets/VIHAR_2024_proceedings.pdf}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}