PHONETIC AND INTONATIONAL MEANS OF EXPRESSING GENDER IN CHILDREN’S SPEECH
Keywords:
Gender socialization, resonance, speech rate, intonation melody, articulation.Abstract
The expression of gender identity through language is a complex phenomenon influenced by social, cognitive, and biological factors. This article investigates the phonetic and intonational features employed by children to express gender in their speech. Drawing upon empirical studies and acoustic analyses, we explore how children of different genders utilize vocal pitch, formant frequencies, intonation patterns, and prosodic elements to signal gender identity and align with sociocultural gender norms. The findings highlight the early emergence of distinct phonetic and intonational strategies in children's speech, reflecting both innate predispositions and social learning. This study contributes to our understanding of language development, gender socialization, and the intersection of phonetics and sociolinguistics in childhood.
References
Barrett, M. (2008). Gender and Intonation. Journal of Phonetics, 36(2), 191–208.
Bucholtz, M. (1999). Why be normal? Language and Identity Practices in a Community of Nerd Girls. Language in Society, 28(2), 203–223.
Campbell-Kibler, K. (2010). The Sociolinguistic Variable as a Carrier of Social Meaning. Language Variation and Change, 22(3), 423–437.
Coates, J. (2013). Women, Men and Language: A Sociolinguistic Account of Gender Differences in Language. Routledge.
Falk, S., Kleinschmidt, T., & Kraljevic, T. (2011). Vocal Pitch and Gender in Child Speech. Journal of Language Development, 38(4), 275–290.
Gelfer, M. P., & Mikos, K. (2005). The Effects of Gender and Vocal Intensity on Fundamental and Formant Frequencies. Journal of Voice, 19(3), 363–373.
