The role of emotion in AAVE pronunciation: Mumble Rap as a phenomenon of Language Evolution
Keywords
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
2018-07-04
Language
en
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study will focus on the effect of emotion on pronunciation in the specific case of Mumble Rap, a relatively new phenomenon in rap music introduced by speakers of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). It is hypothesised that mumble rapping is the result of emotion in speech and hence intonation, pitch range, and enunciation energy are higher in Mumble Rap tracks than in Lyrical Rap tracks. Five tracks of both styles are transcribed and analysed by measuring the vocal parameters using Praat computer software. A significant difference in pitch levels as well as pronunciation accuracy between the two rap styles provide evidence to suggest that speech in Mumble Rap is more emotional than Lyrical Rap. This provides insight into the development of AAVE as a variety of standard American English (AmE).
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Letteren