Open Collections

Lloy, Line

University of British Columbia

Modern sociolinguistic theory views identity as emergent through language. Within this framework, linguistic variation can be used as a tool for identity construction. However, linguistic variation is also conditioned by non-social factors, such as physiology. In particular, so-called ‘gender’ differences in speech have often been attributed to physical differences between sexes. The current work explores the relationship between physical embodiment versus self-expressive agency in speech by examining gender differences in F0, formant dispersion, and /s/ acoustics within a corpus of gender diverse talkers, focusing in particular on non-binary individuals. The first analysis used Bayesian modelling to compare non-binary individuals as a group to cisgender men and women, and found only limited evidence for self-expressive agency. A second analysis using a qualitative Thematic Analysis approach was conducted exploring non-binary individuals’ relationship to gender presentation and the voice. Using participants’ interview responses, various themes were developed relating to why non-binary individuals either did not (wish to) modify their voices for the purpose of gender expression, or were unable to do so. A final analysis applied a mixed-methods approach. Individual non-binary talkers were selected based on their self-described relationships toward gender presentation and the voice. This analysis found that some individuals do modify their voices to align with their desired gender presentation, and that individuals’ voices could be better understood relative to their self-described relationship to and attitudes toward voice modification and gender presentation.

Text

2024-07-10

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/88614

Linguistics

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/