Digital Rhetoric 2.0: How to Train Charismatic Speaking with Speech-Melody Visualization Software

Oliver Niebuhr, Jana Neitsch

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Abstract

The present study deals with a key factor of speaker charisma: prosody or, to put it less technically, speech melody. In a contrastive analysis, we investigate the extent to which computer-aided real-time visualizations of acoustic-melodic parameters in a self-guided training task help speakers use these parameters more charismatically. Fifty-two speakers took part in the experiment, subdivided into four equally large, gender-balanced groups. Each group received the same introduction and instruction, but then trained their melodic charisma with a different software tool. One tool – the “Pitcher” – was specifically developed for visualizing melodic parameters and providing feedback on their proper use in charismatic speech. The other software tools serve language- or singer-training purposes. Results show that three out of the four tools in fact support speakers in adopting a more charismatic speech melody after training, whereby the “Pitcher” outperforms all other tools by more than 25%. We discuss the implications of our findings for refining speech-melody visualization strategies (also for L2 training) and for digitizing rhetorical speaker coaching.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSpeech and Computer - 22nd International Conference, SPECOM 2020, Proceedings : 22nd International Conference, SPECOM 2020, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 7–9, 2020, Proceedings
EditorsAlexey Karpov, Rodmonga Potapova
PublisherSpringer
Publication date4. Oct 2020
Pages357-368
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-60275-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4. Oct 2020
EventInternational Conference SPECOM - St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
Duration: 7. Oct 20209. Oct 2020
Conference number: 22

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference SPECOM
Number22
Country/TerritoryRussian Federation
CitySt. Petersburg
Period07/10/202009/10/2020
SeriesLecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume12335
ISSN0302-9743

Keywords

  • Charisma
  • Pitcher
  • Voice
  • Prosody
  • Public speaking
  • Rhetoric

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