Segments in animal vocalizations: A novel approach to understanding non- human vocal behavior

Informazioni relative al progetto

SEGVOC

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101028815

DOI

10.3030/101028815

Progetto concluso il 11 Febbraio 2023

Data della firma CE 26 Aprile 2021

Data di avvio 1 Febbraio 2022

Data di completamento 30 Gennaio 2026

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Costo totale

€ 186 167,04

Contributo UE

€ 186 167,04

Coordinato da

OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
Austria

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SEGVOC (Segments in animal vocalizations: A novel approach to understanding non- human vocal behavior)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-02-01 al 2024-01-31

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The primary goal of the SEGVOC project is to explore the level of the segment in non-human animals. Because segment research is central to our understanding of human language, any comparative claims about the uniqueness of humans must, at least, consider this unit level in non-humans. Because segments have been largely ignored in animal acoustic communication, the SEGVOC project has great potential for novel research insights and projects. Within this project, the vocalizations of multiple species will be analyzed in order to assess how well segmental models fit animal communication systems. We will also delve deeper into the vocalizations of the budgerigar – a species where we have already fit a segmental model – in order to assess how much explanatory power we have gained and to address questions related to non-human animal phonology (the rules, patterns, production, and perception of segments).

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

The segmentation algorithm has been converted to python code and a python application implementing the code is near completion. The equipmental setup for the habituation-dishabituation experiments is in its final stages of development and the experimental protocol is complete. Two manuscripts have been written, submitted, and accepted for publication, one of which has already been published.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

Due to personal reasons, the SEGVOC project will have to be terminated, so any further results are unlikely before the project end date. Though, several sub-projects were in the final stages of development or were close to generating data. As such, the project may still generate results. In particular, one the software is released, other labs should be able to implement our methods on any number of species. In doing so, we expect a great amount of novel research in non-human animal acoustic communication.

a budgerigar looking at the camera with other budgerigars in the background