The Speech Perception Laboratory Institute for Advanced Study of the Communication Processes (IASCP) University of Florida The Speech Perception Laboratory (SPL) at the University of Florida is located in Dauer Hall, room 68 in the historic portion of the University of Florida campus. The laboratory was constructed in the early 1960s by Professor Harry Hollien and was used for free-field perceptual testing of human subjects. It was later converted into a classroom and served the students of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders for many years. In 2005, it was renovated to serve the needs of the growing speech science research program in IASCP. Currently, the SPL consists of six analysis stations, a perceptual testing chamber with four stations that is also used for audio recording (Dauer 68B), and a small library (Dauer 68A). The SPL is currently lead by Dr. James (Jimmy) Harnsberger, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Harnsberger earned his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Michigan in 1998 and was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Psychology Department at Indiana University before coming to the University of Florida. His background is in phonetics - the articulation, acoustics and perception of speech. Specifically, his work has focused on the representation of speech in long-term memory in terms of its linguistic content as well as its indexical properties, such as speaker voice, age, gender, dialect, speaking style and affect. Currently, several projects are underway at the Speech Perception Laboratory, including: 1. Modeling perceptual assimilation (e.g., the perception of non-native speech sounds). 2. Perceptual correlates to vocal aging. 3. Perceptual category access in bilingual listeners, with Jenna Silver. 4. Short-term memory effects in cross-language speech perception. 5. The effects of stress and deception on voice, with Harry Hollien, Kevin Hollien, Rachel Kesselman and Daniel Kahan. 6. Acoustic and perceptual correlates of ethanol intoxication in speech, with Harry Hollien, Camillo Martin and Kevin Hollien. 7. Gestural and acoustic/auditory similarity metrics, with Lynne Harshman. 8. Acquisition of L2 speech sounds by monolingual and bilinguals learners, with Divya Gogoi. Dr. Harnsberger enjoys the company of a number of outstanding colleagues in the laboratory, including: · Harry Hollien, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus. · Divya Gogoi: Ph.D. student. · Shelley Hicks: Graduate teaching/research assistant. · Anna Rowe: Graduate teaching/research assistant. · Lynne Harshman: Master’s student. Former members of the SPL include: · Kevin Hollien, B.S. (1950 - 2008): Technician on “Voice Stress Analysis” contract with the Department of Defense. Please see his memorial web page. · Jenna Silver, B.A.: Master’s student, graduate research assistant on “Phonetic and prosodic effects in perceptual assimilation” NIH R03 grant. · Rachel Kesselman, M.A.: Graduate research assistant on “Voice Stress Analysis” contract with the Department of Defense. · Daniel Kahan, B.A.: Undergraduate research assistant on “Voice Stress Analysis” contract with the Department of Defense. · Dorothy Bourgeois: Graduate teaching/research assistant. · Bhargavi Nisarga, B.S.: Master’s student, programmer. · Kristin Schaeffer: undergraduate research assistant on “Phonetic and prosodic effects in perceptual assimilation” NIH R03 grant. · Kelly Jones, B.A.: Master’s student, graduate research assistant on “Phonetic and prosodic effects in perceptual assimilation” NIH R03 grant. · Sumana Adusumilli, B.S.: Master’s student, programmer. · Melissa Iandoli: Undergraduate research assistant on “Phonetic and prosodic effects in perceptual assimilation” NIH R03 grant. · Jason Schmitt: Graduate teaching/research assistant. Before you go, check out our speech corpora page. You might find something useful for your own research.
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	Last Updated 08-21-08