Search Results (665)

Effective turn-taking is fundamental to conversational interactions, shaping the fluidity of communication across human dialogues and interactions with spoken dialogue systems (SDS). Despite its apparent simplicity, conversational turn-taking involves complex timing mechanisms influenced by various linguistic, prosodic, and multimodal cues. This review synthesises recent theoretical insights and practical advancements in understanding and modelling conversational timing dynamics, emphasising critical phenomena such as voice activity (VA), turn floor offsets (TFO), and predictive turn-taking. We first discuss foundational concepts, such as voice activity detection (VAD) and inter-pausal units (IPUs), and highlight their significance for systematically representing dialogue states. Central to the challenge of interactive systems is distinguishing moments when conversational roles shift versus when they remain with the current speaker, encapsulated by the concepts of “hold” and “shift”. The timing of these transitions, measured through Turn Floor Offsets (TFOs), aligns closely with minimal human reaction times, suggesting biological underpinnings while exhibiting cross-linguistic variability. This review further explores computational turn-taking heuristics and models, noting that simplistic strategies may reduce interruptions yet risk introducing unnatural delays. Integrating multimodal signals, prosodic, verbal, visual, and predictive mechanisms is emphasised as essential for future developments in achieving human-like conversational responsiveness. Full article

Precision agriculture increasingly recognizes the transformative potential of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) for crop monitoring and field assessment, yet research consistently highlights significant usability barriers as the main constraints to widespread adoption. Complex mission planning processes, including detailed flight plan creation and way point management, pose substantial technical challenges that mainly affect non-expert operators. Farmers and their teams generally prefer user-friendly, straightforward tools, as evidenced by the rapid adoption of GPS guidance systems, which underscores the need for simpler mission planning in UAS operations. To enhance accessibility and safety in UAS control, especially for non-expert operators in agriculture and related fields, we propose a Secure UAS Control Framework (SAUCF): a comprehensive system for natural-language-driven UAS mission management with integrated dual-factor biometric authentication. The framework converts spoken user instructions into executable flight plans by leveraging a language-model-powered mission planner that interprets transcribed voice commands and generates context-aware operational directives, including takeoff, location monitoring, return-to-home, and landing operations. Mission orchestration is performed through a large language model (LLM) agent, coupled with a human-in-the-loop supervision mechanism that enables operators to review, adjust, or confirm mission plans before deployment. Additionally, SAUCF offers a manual override feature, allowing users to assume direct control or interrupt missions at any stage, ensuring safety and adaptability in dynamic environments. Proof-of-concept demonstrations on a UAS plat-form with on-board computing validated reliable speech-to-text transcription, biometric verification via voice matching and face authentication, and effective Sim2Real transfer of natural-language-driven mission plans from simulation environments to physical UAS operations. Initial evaluations showed that SAUCF reduced mission planning time, minimized command errors, and simplified complex multi-objective workflows compared to traditional waypoint-based tools, though comprehensive field validation remains necessary to confirm these preliminary findings. The integration of natural-language-based interaction, real-time identity verification, human-in-the-loop LLM orchestration, and manual override capabilities allows SAUCF to significantly lower the technical barrier to UAS operation while ensuring mission security, operational reliability, and operator agency in real-world conditions. These findings lay the groundwork for systematic field trials and suggest that prioritizing ease of operation in mission planning can drive broader deployment of UAS technologies. Full article

Drawing insights from the work of two East African women theologians, Teresia Hinga and Nasimiyu Wasike, this article foregrounds how African women theologians are a formidable force in decolonizing patriarchy. Adopting a literature review approach, the article examines some of the literature produced by Hinga and Wasike, revealing how far they have gone in terms of breaking the thick walls of patriarchy which were fortified by Christianity, colonialism and modernity. In unison with these two giant East African women theologians, the article beckons all African women to resist the patriarchal injustices on their doorsteps. It raises a clarion call for them to reclaim their voices by refusing to be spoken for, spoken of, spoken about as if they were dead. Hence, it advocates for a resurgence of conversations around the decolonization of patriarchy. The article also suggests other possible interventions that can be implemented to enhance the attainment of gender parity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hearing loss affects spoken language processing and leads to cortical reorganization in sensory systems. While neuroimaging research has explored cross-modal plasticity in visual language processing, there is a need to identify brain activation patterns consistently activated across different nonverbal communication tasks in deaf individuals. We hypothesized that deaf adults would show convergent activation across studies in visual and auditory cortices during nonverbal communication processing compared to typical hearing adults. Methods: To test this, we conducted an Activation Likelihood Estimation analysis of 14 neuroimaging studies using different visual linguistic stimuli and tasks in adults with prelingual deafness and age-matched hearing controls. Results: Contrary to expectations, deaf individuals did not show intramodal activation in the visual cortex. Instead, they demonstrated convergence activation in the left superior temporal gyrus only, indicating cross-modal recruitment of auditory regions, which supports visual-spatial language processing. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for future research to clarify how cortical reorganization impacts speech perception outcomes following auditory restoration using neuroprostheses like cochlear implants. Full article

The Converter/Distributor (C/D) model, as proposed by Fujimura is theoretically grounded on articulatory observations of X-ray microbeam (XRMB) data that show that utterance syllable prominence patterns “dictate” the size, timing and phrasing of articulatory movements. This paper briefly addresses some key differences between the C/D model and Articulatory Prosody (AP) before moving on to describe some of the basic components of the C/D model, e.g., the phonological prosodic input to the model, the Converter, which outputs, among other things, descriptions of syllable prominence patterns, prosodic boundaries, and syllable edge features, and the Distributor which enlists “elemental gestures” to articulatorily implement feature sets. Examples from previous research inspired by the C/D model illustrate how articulatory events, i.e., patterns of jaw lowering, account for the temporal organization of spoken language; also, how second language speakers tend to carry over their first language patterns of jaw lowering. Some applications of the C/D model are discussed, including first and second language acquisition, clinical applications, and new insights into prosodic phonology. The final section summarizes some of the strengths of the C/D model as well as the yet-to-be investigated aspects of the model. Full article

In Peru, large-scale migration from the provinces to Lima in the second half of the twentieth century has created a context of intense language and dialect contact. This study examines /s/ variation among migrants from the Andean region, where Quechua, Aymara, and varieties of Andean Spanish—shaped through long-standing contact with these indigenous languages—are spoken. We analyze the speech of 59 participants representing “classic Limeños,” whose families have lived in Lima for several generations, and three generations of Andean migrants, using corpora collected in 1999–2002 and 2012–2013 to trace linguistic change in apparent time. Univariable analyses show significant generational differences: as distance from migration increases, aspiration becomes more frequent and elision declines, while [s] remains relatively stable after the first generation. Multivariable models incorporating migrant generation, family origin, neighborhood, education, and sex reveal that while a combined variable of migrant generation and family origin is significant, neighborhood, education, and sex are stronger predictors. Speakers from established neighborhoods, those with university education, and female speakers favor aspiration and [s], aligning with prestige norms. Mixed-effects logistic regression of linguistic variables confirms structured sociolinguistic change: the following segment is the strongest linguistic predictor, and there is a clear intergenerational shift from elision toward aspiration. However, constraint hierarchies—especially following segment and stress—remain stable, indicating change in rates rather than in linguistic conditioning. Full article

This study reexamines Learner Englishes (LEs)–New Englishes (NEs) continuum by considering intervarietal variation, mode differences, and multiple linguistic levels. Relying on comparable written and spoken corpus data, we investigate the valency patterns and senses of the verb TAKE across two LEs (Mainland Chinese English (MCE) and Belgian French-speaking English (BFE)) and two NEs (Singapore English (SgE) and Hong Kong English (HKE)) within the Extra- and Intra-territorial Forces (EIF) Model. The study examines whether internal linguistic factors, namely, mode (writing and speech) and linguistic levels (valency patterns and senses), influence the variety positioning along the LEs-NEs continuum and whether this positioning reflects the expected proximity cline to native English (NativeE) (BFE > MCE > HKE > SgE) established within the EIF Model. Our quantitative results reveal that individual varieties intermingle depending on mode and linguistic levels rather than occupying stable positions along the LEs-NEs continuum. Dendrogram analyses yield distinct variety clustering patterns that contradict the expected proximity cline to NativeE. Qualitatively, we identify some shared linguistic features across LEs and NEs that suggest common underlying language learning strategies. These results contribute to variationist linguistics by demonstrating that English varieties exhibit dynamic development trajectories shaped by language-internal factors (e.g., mode and linguistic levels). We propose refining the EIF Model to incorporate language-internal dimensions, thereby bridging the gap between LEs and NEs through a more nuanced theoretical framework. Full article

Background: School-age children with cochlear implants (CIs) navigate academic and social settings by adopting varied communication strategies. Understanding these preferences and their determinants is essential for inclusive education and equitable public health. Evidence from multilingual contexts remains limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the communication preferences among school-age children with CI and the influence of social adaptability, home language, and CI duration. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 32 CI user school-age children (mean age = 13.4 years) at Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services. A structured questionnaire assessed communication mode, adaptability, comfort, and effectiveness. Quantitative associations were tested with Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests; Pearson’s correlation examined links with CI duration. Qualitative responses were thematically analysed. Results: Most school-age children with CI preferred bimodal communication (spoken and sign). The primary spoken language used in the household was associated with communication preferences across settings (p ≤ 0.031). Gender differences appeared in family communication (p = 0.036). Longer CI duration correlated with greater spoken-language comfort (r = 0.32; p = 0.038). Self-reported adaptability was high but not significantly associated with preferences. Conclusions: School-age children with CI in multilingual environments predominantly adopt bimodal communication, shaped by sociocultural and linguistic contexts. Recognising bimodal use as normative supports bilingual education, family-centred care and public health strategies promoting equity and participation. Full article

Nonverbal tests assess cognitive ability in multicultural and multilingual children, but language-based instructions disadvantage non-proficient children. This is a growing concern worldwide due to the increasing number of multilingual classrooms. The tablet-based FLUX (Fluid Intelligence Luxembourg) test was developed within a highly multicultural and multilingual educational context to offer not only nonverbal test content but also language-fair animated video instructions. A total of 703 third graders (M_age = 8.85, SD = 0.66; 48.8% females, 51.1% males, 0.1% with no gender specified) were included in the standardisation sample and were assessed with tasks measuring figural fluid intelligence, quantitative fluid intelligence, visual processing and short-term memory. The test proved sufficiently reliable (FLUX Full-scale: McDonald’s Omega = 0.94; split-half = 0.95). Test fairness was ensured by analysing each item for Differential Item Functioning (DIF) on children’s background characteristics (language spoken at home, socioeconomic status, gender). Its factorial structure was confirmed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Further validity evidence was provided by determining its concurrent and criterion-related validity (correlations with a test of cognitive ability and educational achievement scores). Research implications and future prospects in promoting equal opportunities in a heterogeneous multilingual educational context are discussed. Full article

As drones become increasingly integrated into civilian and industrial domains, the demand for natural and accessible control interfaces continues to grow. Conventional manual controllers require technical expertise and impose cognitive overhead, limiting their usability in dynamic and time-critical scenarios. To address these limitations, this paper presents a multilingual voice-driven control framework for quadrotor drones, enabling real-time operation in both English and Arabic. The proposed architecture combines offline Speech-to-Text (STT) processing with large language models (LLMs) to interpret spoken commands and translate them into executable control code. Specifically, Vosk is employed for bilingual STT, while Google Gemini provides semantic disambiguation, contextual inference, and code generation. The system is designed for continuous, low-latency operation within an edge–cloud hybrid configuration, offering an intuitive and robust human–drone interface. While speech recognition and safety validation are processed entirely offline, high-level reasoning and code generation currently rely on cloud-based LLM inference. Experimental evaluation demonstrates an average speech recognition accuracy of 95% and end-to-end command execution latency between 300 and 500 ms, validating the feasibility of reliable, multilingual, voice-based UAV control. This research advances multimodal human–robot interaction by showcasing the integration of offline speech recognition and LLMs for adaptive, safe, and scalable aerial autonomy. Full article

The goal of newborn screening (NBS) has remained the same despite its significant expansion from its inception as a public health initiative. This goal is to identify infants that are at risk for a set list of conditions and to implement a care plan to prevent, delay, or mitigate adverse health outcomes for those affected. The role of genetic counselors (GCs) in the NBS space is currently evolving, and there is limited research on parental experiences with genetic counseling for more recently added conditions on a list approved by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services called the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). This qualitative study interviewed parents who have spoken to a genetic counselor after their child was diagnosed with one of three following conditions in the past five years: Pompe disease, X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. A total of 13 interviews were conducted and results were organized into five thematic areas: (1) NBS/Results Disclosure, (2) Diagnostic Process after NBS, (3) Treatment/Follow-Up, (4) Communication, and (5) Holistic Support. The findings of this study highlighted parental preferences for early involvement of genetic counselors, provider, and parent education on NBS, and the provision of family support beyond genetic resources. Full article

This paper examines the reportative evidential dizque in Andean Spanish as spoken in Ecuador and Peru. Taking, as a starting point, the synchronic and diachronic syntactic analyses of this type of markers in Romance that have been discussed in the literature, I propose an analysis that makes explicit how their syntax is mapped into semantics, and provide a semantics that captures the evidential and lack of certainty implications of dizque. I argue that expressions with dizque must be uttered when reportative evidence is available to the speaker, and, building on previous literature, that the lack of certainty flavor that these expressions have is a not-at-issue entailment. I show a number of consequences that follow from this kind of approach. I further point out how my proposal can capture the cross-Romance variation that is found in this domain, and discuss some key differences between dizque and other reportative evidentials cross-linguistically in connection to the expression of lack of certainty. Full article

This paper explores the initial steps of transgenerational language change in exile by comparing the varieties of “Common” Tibetan as spoken by parents born in Amdo, Tibet, and by their teenager children, born in Tibet or in South Asia, who arrived in France at an early age and who have spent all or most of their schooling in France. In these families, the parents speak a variety of Amdo Tibetan as their first language, which does not allow for inter-comprehension with “Common” Tibetan. They have acquired “Common” Tibetan during their stay in South Asia before they moved to France. The paper follows a descriptive approach to analyze the structural (dis)similarities between the parents’ and the children’s varieties of “Common” Tibetan. It also documents intra-generational variation (1) within the parents’ generation, where we can observe a variable extent of retention for Amdo Tibetic features, and (2) within the children’s generation, where variation is usually due more to the (often contact-induced) linguistic changes than to the retention of some of their parents’ linguistic features. Full article

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and their predictors in 16–19-year-old adolescents with prelingual hearing loss (HL) who use spoken language. Methods: Self- and parent-reported symptoms were measured using RCADS-25 in 250 adolescents with HL (55.2% males; mean age = 17.1 years). A normal hearing (NH) peer group of 69 adolescents (56.5% males; mean age = 16.7 years) completed the self-reported RCADS-25. Key predictor variables included audiological factors, demographic factors, non-verbal IQ, language, communication, prosocial behaviour, and peer relations. Results: The proportion of adolescents with high self-reported anxiety was similar between HL and NH groups (~8%). Depression symptoms were more common in the HL group (11.2% self-reported, 15.8% parent-reported) than in the NH group (7.2%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Across informants, females had worse symptoms, but this association was no longer significant after accounting for communication difficulty. Among hearing aid users, higher prosocial behaviour was associated with fewer depression symptoms, while peer relations were a protective factor in cochlear implant users. Parent- and self-report congruence in symptom rating was modest (r = 0.56–0.68). Predictors of symptoms were consistent across informants, with parent happiness and socio-economic status additionally influencing parent-reported symptoms. Symptoms were unrelated to device type (hearing aid/cochlear implant), degree of hearing loss, or age at intervention. Adolescents with elevated symptoms also reported increased school absenteeism. Conclusions: Adolescents with HL reported anxiety at similar rates to NH peers but may have a higher prevalence of depression. Emotional well-being was influenced primarily by psychosocial and communication factors, not audiological characteristics. Full article

It is a widely held belief that bilingual infants benefit from hearing each of their languages spoken by different people, as speakers could serve as a cue for separating the two languages. However, it is not yet known whether infants reliably attend to speaker-specific language use. In four experiments using looking time measures, we asked whether monolingual and bilingual infants in the U.S. could learn pairings between speakers and languages. Infants were first familiarized with two speakers, each using a different language. Then, after infants habituated, the two speakers switched languages, and we measured whether infants showed increased interest in hearing the speakers use a different language. Across all four studies, infants did not show reliable evidence that they detected a change in the language used by individual speakers, suggesting that speaker-language associations may not be a salient source of information for infants. Full article