rspb.2021.0872.pdf (760.51 kB)
Harsh is large: nonlinear vocal phenomena lower voice pitch and exaggerate body size
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 01:21 authored by Andrey Anikin, Katarzyna Pisanski, Mathilde Massenet, David RebyA lion's roar, a dog's bark, an angry yell in a pub brawl: what do these vocalizations have in common? They all sound harsh due to nonlinear vocal phenomena (NLP) - deviations from regular voice production, hypothesized to lower perceived voice pitch and thereby exaggerate the apparent body size of the vocalizer. To test this yet uncorroborated hypothesis, we synthesized human nonverbal vocalizations, such as roars, groans and screams, with and without NLP (amplitude modulation, subharmonics and chaos). We then measured their effects on nearly 700 listeners' perceptions of three psychoacoustic (pitch, timbre, roughness) and three ecological (body size, formidability, aggression) characteristics. In an explicit rating task, all NLP lowered perceived voice pitch, increased voice darkness and roughness, and caused vocalizers to sound larger, more formidable and more aggressive. Key results were replicated in an implicit associations test, suggesting that the 'harsh is large' bias will arise in ecologically relevant confrontational contexts that involve a rapid, and largely implicit, evaluation of the opponent's size. In sum, nonlinearities in human vocalizations can flexibly communicate both formidability and intention to attack, suggesting they are not a mere byproduct of loud vocalizing, but rather an informative acoustic signal well suited for intimidating potential opponents.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological SciencesISSN
0962-8452Publisher
The Royal SocietyExternal DOI
Issue
1954Volume
288Page range
1-8Article number
a20210872Event location
EnglandDepartment affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2021-10-08First Open Access (FOA) Date
2021-10-08First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2021-10-08Usage metrics
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