@article{jbp:/content/journals/10.1075/sic.00082.lar, author = "Larson, Joseph Edward and Figueroa, Mauricio A. and Pérez, Hernán Emilio", title = "Impact of elocution task on the measurements of rhythmic patterns in Chilean Spanish", journal= "Spanish in Context", year = "2022", volume = "19", number = "3", pages = "405-431", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1075/sic.00082.lar", url = "https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/sic.00082.lar", publisher = "John Benjamins", issn = "1571-0718", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "theory of isochrony", keywords = "speech rhythm", keywords = "syllable-timed", keywords = "Chilean Spanish", keywords = "accent-timed", keywords = "Spanish", abstract = "Abstract

In this paper, we put to the test the validity of the theory of isochrony using data from Chilean Spanish. Spanish has been historically classified as syllable-timed, meaning its basic unit of prosody is the syllable. However, recent studies have shown that different methods of elicitation can have a significant effect on rhythm metrics (i.e., Arvaniti 2012). The present study measured a series of rhythm metrics from samples of 30 native Chilean Spanish speakers producing spontaneous speech and reading aloud. Using MANOVA analyses, the study determined that method of elicitation had a significant effect on the metrics: while spontaneous speech tended to produce values indicative of accent-timed rhythm, reading aloud yielded values which placed them closer to the syllable-timed rhythm category. This study helps to contribute to the notion that speech rhythm is not necessarily determined by language, but rather that there are other relevant factors.", }