Non-Verbal Information Interpretation in Speech Portraiture (Exemplified by Oral Speech)

Within the domain of modern linguistics, the interpretation of oral speech in the context of speech portraiture (profiling) occupies a distinguished position. Typically, experts in the field of sound text research identify a series of linguistic characteristics that are indicative of spontaneous and prepared oral speech. A significant contemporary forensic and criminalistics issue is the interpretation of the oral text for the purpose of ascertaining the emotional state of the speaker. The research aims to substantiate the applicability of acoustic methods to identifying acoustic-and-linguistic parameters that are relevant for determining the degree of spontaneity/preparedness of utterances with regard to the emotional state of the speaker. The article introduces the results of testing instrumental methods applied to speech portraiture tasks employing the specialized sound editor SIS II (developer – Speech Technology Center, St. Petersburg), including methods for analyzing the microstructure of sounds and the melodic contour of syntagmas. The present study aims to explore the acoustic correlates of perceptual and auditory features of spontaneous and prepared speech at segmental and suprasegmental levels using the authentic phonograms submitted for forensic phonoscopic and psychological-and-linguistic examinations. Expert analysis, carried out in conformity with traditional approaches to distinguishing the linguistic characteristics of oral speech, has enabled the authors to identify some significant informative parameters, which objectify interpretation of the oral speech spontaneity and degree of its preparation, taking into account the emotional state of the speaker.