Listening test

Listening test : perceptual evaluation of mouth opening on sustained vowels. contact : luc.ardaillon@ircam.fr

Thank you for your time! Please read carefully the following information before you start, even though you are used to doing such tests.

This test aims at evaluating the perception of the degree of mouth opening during the pronunciation of sustained vowels.

Before starting the test, please listen to the following sounds of the vowel /a/ pronounced with various degrees of mouth opening, from almost closed to wide open.
Please set the volume to a comfortable level.

level 1 :
level 2 :
level 3 :
level 4 :
level 5 :

You may have noticed that the timbre varies according to the degree of mouth opening, and the perceived vowel can then be different (the /a/ almost sounds like an /o/ when the mouth is more closed).
You are encouraged to try it for yourself before taking the test. For this purpose, pronounce a vowel aloud, and simply vary simplement your mouth opening, by only moving your jaw (the other articulators should remain steady), in order to hear the induced timbre variation.

For each pair of recordings below (each line), select one button depending on which one seem to correspond to the higher degree of mouth opening.

If the left sound sounds much more open than the right sound, select the left-most button (+3)
If the left sound sounds more open than the right sound, select the second button (+2)
If the left sound sounds slightly more open than the right sound, select the 3^rd button (+1)
If both sounds sound equally open, select the middle button (0)

... and the same on the other way.

In order to avoid any ambiguity, the pronounced vowel is given just above each pair of sounds.
Try to use the full scale (from 0 to +3) in both ways.
There is no "correct" answer. It is only about your subjective preference.

Recommendations

If there is any technical problem (e.g. sound not playing) with one sound, select Prob. (please note that it may take a few seconds for all sounds to load)
If you perceive a difference of loudness such as you can't properly evaluate a pair of sounds, select also Prob.
Do the test in a quiet place.
Use absolutely headphones or earphones.
Verify that the sound level is loud enough to hear the sound details properly.
Please, take the time to listen !
No need to try to find a repetition or order among the sounds. There is none. Their order is randomized.

Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
/eu/ (duck)
1
/a/ (bat)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
2
/è/ (may)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
3
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
4
/eu/ (duck)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
5
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
6
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
7
/a/ (bat)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
8
/a/ (bat)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
9
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
10
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
11
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
12
/O/ (more)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
13
/è/ (may)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
14
/eu/ (duck)
Pair	File1	+3	+2	+1	0	+1	+2	+3	File2	Prob
15