D. H. Whalen
Haskins Labs., 270 Crown St., New Haven, CT 06511
Andrea G. Levitt
Haskins Labs. and Wellesley College
Iris Smorodinsky
Haskins Labs. and Yale Univ.
Pai-Ling Hsiao
Haskins Labs. and Univ. of Connecticut
In adult speech, fundamental frequency (F0) has been found to be relatively high with high vowels and low with low vowels. This ``intrinsic pitch'' has been found in every language examined, including tone languages. One study with infants [Bauer, Folia Phonia. 40, 138--146 (1988)] found that F0 changed consistently with the front/back dimension rather than the high/low dimension. Bauer interpreted this pattern in terms of the change in vocal tract shape that occurs over the first 18 months of life. In this study, four infants were examined at 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Only vowels with non-mid-central articulation were selected. Results indicated that there was, after all, an association with height, though there was also an interaction with front/back. Reasons for the discrepancy with earlier work will be discussed. [Work supported by NIH Grant No. DC-00403.]