A contribution to the study of speech tempo and pause variability in two different speaking styles

Abstract

This study analyzes speech tempo and pause variability in two speaking styles: read-aloud news and semi-spontaneous self-introductions. Recordings of 10 non-professional Czech female speakers were examined for speech rate, articulation rate, and pauses. Results show that the read-aloud news were significantly faster, with a higher tempo and lower pause volume. While within-genre variability in the news was observed, the introductions exhibited greater inter-speaker variation, particularly in pausing. A speaker's tempo in one style did not strongly predict their tempo in the other. These findings underscore the role of speaking style in shaping the temporal characteristics of speech.