Cry and non-cry vocalizations in four infants, videorecorded between 4 and 8 months of age, were analyzed by spectrograph in order to extract their temporal features. The vocalizations were classified with respect to their communicative value on the basis of situational context. Temporal parameters considered were: sequence length, pause duration, and vocalization duration. In order to analyze the influence of communicative value and non-segmental characteristics - voicing, melodic pattern, manner of phonation — five ANOVAs were performed. Results showed that duration of vocalizations is influenced by communicative value and non-segmental features, but in most cases not independently one factor from the other. A hypothesis of a prevalently indirect influence of communicative value on duration and temporal patterning is discussed.
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