Papers by Olawale Joshua Akingbade
Frontiers in Communication
Frontiers in Communication
This pilot study proposes an acoustic study of the vocal expressions in Ìjálá and Ẹ̀sà, two genre... more This pilot study proposes an acoustic study of the vocal expressions in Ìjálá and Ẹ̀sà, two genres of Yorùbá oral poetry. For this study, we conducted an experiment, involving the vocalization of an original poem in speech mode, Ìjálá and Ẹ̀sà. The vocalizations were recorded and analyzed acoustically. The results of the study show that cepstral peak prominence (CPP), Hammarberg index and Energy of voiced sound below 500 Hz distinguish comparisons of Ẹ̀sà, Ìjálá and speech but are not as reliable as F0 height and vibrato. By comparing the pitch trajectories of the speech tones and poetic tunes, we show that poetry determines tone-to-tune mapping but can accommodate language when it is feasible. The results of our investigation are not only in line with the previous impressionistic observations about vocal expression in Yorùbá oral poetry but contribute with new findings. Notably, our investigation supports vocal tremor as the historical origin of vibrato in Ìjálá. As a result of thi...
Frontier in Communication, Volume 7, 2022
This pilot study proposes an acoustic study of the vocal expressions in Ìjálá and Èsà, two genres... more This pilot study proposes an acoustic study of the vocal expressions in Ìjálá and Èsà, two genres of Yorùbá oral poetry. For this study, we conducted an experiment, involving the vocalization of an original poem in speech mode, Ìjálá and Èsà. The vocalizations were recorded and analyzed acoustically. The results of the study show that cepstral peak prominence (CPP), Hammarberg index and Energy of voiced sound below Hz distinguish comparisons of È. sà, Ìjálá and speech but are not as reliable as F height and vibrato. By comparing the pitch trajectories of the speech tones and poetic tunes, we show that poetry determines tone-to-tune mapping but can accommodate language when it is feasible. The results of our investigation are not only in line with the previous impressionistic observations about vocal expression in Yorùbá oral poetry but contribute with new findings. Notably, our investigation supports vocal tremor as the historical origin of vibrato in Ìjálá. As a result of this, we strongly recommend the instruments of phonetic science for the study of vocal expression in African oral poetry.
RALL: Research in African Languages and Linguistics Vol. 16, 2017
Sentence negation in Ìlàjẹ have specific lexical negation markers (comprising segments and tone),... more Sentence negation in Ìlàjẹ have specific lexical negation markers (comprising segments and tone), Ìlàjẹ reflects negation with a low tone-morph. The process is a tono-syntactic one, which hitherto has been handled only within syntactic theory. In this paper, we deploy the Optimality Theory, to provide an inclusive explanation of the phonological and syntactic dimensions of Ìlàjẹ negation. Data were purposively acquired from four proficient native speakers. Negation is shown to be a phonology-driven syntactic process, which subsists on moraic vowel lengthening. Thus, the claim is made that whereas Ìlàjẹ not essentially moraic, it nonetheless deploys a moraic strategy in the operation of the negative tone-morph. The process involves the lengthening of the final vowel of the (pro)noun upon the linkage of the low tone-morph. It is also is tacitly moderated by the Obligatory Contour Principle.
Uploads
Papers by Olawale Joshua Akingbade