Project description
Budgerigars can tell us about vocal communication
Budgerigars are highly social parrots with a complex, learned vocal repertoire. As with other parrots, this species is also well known as a vocal mimic. The EU-funded SEGVOC project will study the non-stereotyped vocalisations of budgerigars. The findings will build on research comparing human and non-human animal communication that has left vocal behaviour unexplored. For instance, in non-human animal vocal behaviour, the smallest unit of analysis is the syllable or breath group, where intakes of breath divide the acoustic stream. Humans, however, can utter full words, phrases and even sentences between intervals of silence. The project will develop methods and experimental protocols to study the production and perception of non-human vocal segments.
Objective
Research comparing human and non-human animal communication has made great strides over the past half-century, yet, aspects of vocal behavior remain unexplored. In non-human animal vocal behavior, the smallest unit of analysis is the syllable or breath group, where intakes of breath divide the acoustic stream. Humans, however, can utter full words, phrases, and even sentences between intervals of silence. If alien researchers used the breath group as the smallest domain of analysis in human vocal behavior, they would be confused as to how “five spiders” and “more than four spiders” elicits similar responses but “five spiders” and “five ciders” are treated completely differently. In humans, segments – units that build words and phrases and are divided by acoustic transitions rather than silent intervals – are central to our understanding of language and have clarified the extent and limits to cross-population variability, how humans categorize acoustic stimuli, how languages change over time, and how learning and biology interact to create culture. Because of the central role in understanding language, segment analyses can greatly enhance our understanding of animal vocal behavior, as well. Building on my PhD research, I will further develop tools, methods, and experimental protocols to study the production and perception of non-human vocal segments. While the experimental work will focus on the non-stereotyped vocalizations of budgerigars (a small parrot species), I will apply a segmental approach to the vocalizations of a range of species. Because these segments are more acoustically analogous, they provide better units of comparison across species.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1010 Wien
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.