Projects / Programmes
Thinking Folklore: Approaching Dialect from Folkoristic, Ethnological, and Computational Perspectives
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 6.04.00 |
Humanities |
Ethnology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| H400 |
Humanities |
Folklore |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
dialect, supra-dialect, folklore, bearer, semantics, computational analysis, music information retrieval (MIR)
Researchers (10)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The project investigates the nature of a dialect from folkloristic and ethnological, semantic, and technological perspective. Specifically, it examines the transitioning between three types of language codes present in folklore – a dialect, a literary language, and a supra-dialect as an intermediate form of the two. It involves basic concepts of constructing local identities that are clearly associated with the use of dialect expressions in songs, whereas the transitioning relates to the structure of linguistic expression that is moving away from a pure dialect towards literary code. This duality is pronounced when the bearer from a particular dialect group transfers the dialect used in speech to the non-dialect (supra-dialect) when singing. In both, we see the expression of collective identity and the preservation of collective memory (Halbwachs 2001).
The folkloristic and ethnological perspective tackles the dialect as a textological problem associated with the texture (melody) of the text and influenced by the bearer's interpretation, as well as local and wider social and cultural context. It further addresses the choice of a particular language code with respect to the social situation in which the bearer enters. The collective consciousness of the local stems from its identification with the dialect (conversations, memories, reflections), whereas the collective consciousness of the national stems from its identification with the supra-dialect (singing).
The semantic challenge stems from transitioning between the language codes. As each code is subjected to a specific semantics, the transitioning always generates a semantic problem. The coupling of the code to the conceptual structure of the bearer and the wider semantic structure, which provide for the collective use of the code in its (local) environment, cannot be completely preserved in any kind of transitioning where either the bearer, the meaning, or the context (situational, social, and cultural) are being altered.
The technological perspective will examine novel audio analysis and music information retrieval methods to automate the search for words in their different dialectal forms in field recordings and simultaneously quantify the phonetic differences between their pronunciation. It will be necessary to develop new approaches that address the specifics of the analysed materials, in particular the use of dialect, which can significantly deviate from written transcriptions. The purpose of the technological research is twofold: alignment can enable word searching in large collections of sound recordings, and thus substantiate the analysis conducted in the course of the project. At the same time, alignment forms the basis for development of algorithms for assessment of phonetic parameters of pronunciation of individual phonemes (e.g. f0 movement, position of formats, length of vocals, etc.), which will enable quantification of the differences between dialect and supra-dialect in speech and singing.
The proposed researches are original as they are the first in Slovenia to examine the link between dialect and supra-dialect and the contents of the folklore text or event. In this way, we also highlight the importance of dialects for the identity of individuals and communities, local and national. At the same time the project recognizes the spontaneous and conscious use of dialect or supra-dialect, depending on the social situation. In technological terms, the proposed research is original since it will develop new approaches to alignment of texts and audio recordings, which will allow for a broader and more detailed analysis of dialect and supra-dialect. Connecting textual, contextual and semantic aspects with the proposed computational approaches to analyze large amounts recordings can form the basis for the development of context oriented and text oriented folkloristics.
Significance for science
The project will investigate the linguistic code, semantic meanings, cultural horizons of bearers, and present the importance of understanding the dialects as a communication tool, attached to the geographical and cultural space of each bearer. Project results are relevant, as they aim to set new foundations by pronouncing the dual use of the dialect depending on the social situation, while investigating coherence and impact of the dialect or supra-dialect on the contents of the song.
Furthermore, by conducting technology-based research we can detect the differences in sonority of dialectal words compared to a supra-dialectal, and identify the role of melody. These results will also be of potential use in linguistics, dialectology, ethnology, anthropology and folkloristics, contributing new knowledge to these domains. Furthermore, the project will develop innovative ICT-supported research methods and significantly contribute to the preservation of Slovenian dialects.
Next to the proposed area of research, the computational tools developed in the project will have further implications for the development of automatic speech recognition tools for the Slovenian language, as they will offer an automated way of aligning audio with transcriptions, thus making way for the development of large corpora needed for training novel speech recognition models.
Significance for the country
The project will investigate the linguistic code, semantic meanings, cultural horizons of bearers, and present the importance of understanding the dialects as a communication tool, attached to the geographical and cultural space of each bearer. Project results are relevant, as they aim to set new foundations by pronouncing the dual use of the dialect depending on the social situation, while investigating coherence and impact of the dialect or supra-dialect on the contents of the song.
Furthermore, by conducting technology-based research we can detect the differences in sonority of dialectal words compared to a supra-dialectal, and identify the role of melody. These results will also be of potential use in linguistics, dialectology, ethnology, anthropology and folkloristics, contributing new knowledge to these domains. Furthermore, the project will develop innovative ICT-supported research methods and significantly contribute to the preservation of Slovenian dialects.
Next to the proposed area of research, the computational tools developed in the project will have further implications for the development of automatic speech recognition tools for the Slovenian language, as they will offer an automated way of aligning audio with transcriptions, thus making way for the development of large corpora needed for training novel speech recognition models.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
