Degrees of freedom in speech production: an argument for native speakers in LADO

Authors

  • Francis Nolan University of Cambridge

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.v19i2.263

Keywords:

LADO, native speaker, speech motor control, Action Theory, coordinative structure, articulatory setting

Abstract

An argument from first principles is presented in favour of native-speaker involvement in Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO). Speech is both language and action, and too little account has been taken in debates over LADO of the fact that the physical act of speaking involves coordinating a mechanism (the vocal organs) with myriad degrees of freedom. Part of what a native speaker has acquired will consist in imitated motor behaviour too detailed for description by phonetic categories. Examples are cited where sounds differing in dynamics, coordination and alignment are given the same linguistic phonetic analysis. Throughout history, making the judgment ‘(not) one of us’ from speech has been a central social skill. The default assumption (until disproven) must be that native-speaker knowledge of the dynamics of speech as action must add delicacy of discrimination to that achievable using linguistic descriptions.

Author Biography

  • Francis Nolan, University of Cambridge
    Francis Nolan is Professor of Phonetics in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. His research interests range over phonetic theory, intonation, connected speech processes and speaker characteristics. His long-standing involvement in forensic phonetics covers both fundamental research and casework, including expert speaker identification and the use of voice parades. He believes that forensic phonetic practice needs to be underpinned by advances in phonetic theory, and the problems posed by forensic phonetics in turn stimulate the development of phonetic theory. He is a founding member of IAFPA and President of the British Association of Academic Phoneticians.

Published

2012-12-30

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Nolan, F. (2012). Degrees of freedom in speech production: an argument for native speakers in LADO. International Journal of Speech, Language and the Law, 19(2), 263-289. https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsll.v19i2.263