equal auditory steps along F1/F2

[Christian Kaernbach <auditory@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Heriberto,

There is no way to set up an array of perceptually equidistant positions 
in the F1/F2 plane. The problem is that in different languages there are 
different categorization boundaries in this plane. Differences accross a 
category boundary are alway perceived as larger as physically comparable 
differences within a category. Being grown up with a certain language 
makes us more sensitive to some steps, and less to others. I am not 
aware if learning a second language in later life has at least some 
influence on F1/F2 discrimination performance (I think it should).

Perhaps you could "calibrate" your vowel array, with listeners with the 
same cultural background as those that you want to invite for your main 
experiment.

Good luck,
Christian Kaernbach

> Dear List members,
>
> I am designing an experiment and I need to synthesize an array of vowels 
> separated by equal perceptual magnitudes. That is to say, I need vowels 
> that sample the acoustic vowel space in equal auditory steps along the 
> continua F1 and F2.
> Furthermore, I would like to justify such a magnitude, instead of just 
> doing a Hz to ERB/MEL/Bark etc. conversion, for instance.
> I would appreciate any comment and suggestions about the relevant 
> literature.
>
> Best regards,
> Heriberto


--
Prof. Dr. Christian Kaernbach
Psychologische Methodik und computergestützte Modellierung
Institut für Psychologie
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
Schubertstr. 51 a
A-8010 Graz
Austria
www.kaernbach.de fechner.uni-graz.at