Acoustic Properties of Disfluent Repetitions

Abstract

Acoustic properties of disfluent repetitions are examined to investigate two proposed functions of repeating. Repeating may serve as a filler while hesitating; alternatively, repeating may function to bridge a gap when speech resumes after a break. Classification of tokens based on pause patterns reveals that: (1) most cases fit the bridging function; and (2)duration and F0 properties support the hypothesis of two distinct types, as well as the proposed associated functions.