Location: Bell Tower West 2425 (upper level of central BT)
Director: Dr. Vanina Machado Araujo, Prof. in Hispanic Linguistics, Spanish Department CSUCI.
Photo: Dr. Machado and RAs doing speech analysis in PRAAT
Welcome to our SPEAK (Speech Processing, Evaluation, and Acoustic Knowledge) project at the CSUCI Sociolinguistics Speech Lab!
FAQ:
What is the SPEAK project about? (Click me!)
The SPEAK project investigates how bilingualism shapes speech perception and production in California Spanish-speaking communities and other native groups (e.g. Spanish heritage speakers, Mexican-American bilinguals, Chumash speakers, etc.). Students participating in SPEAK will gain hands-on experience in acoustic analysis, transcription, and experimental design, developing essential research skills in data collection, linguistic documentation, and interdisciplinary analysis. This project aligns with the mission of the Sociolinguistics Speech Lab by promoting inclusive research and fostering mentorship opportunities at CSUCI. Additionally, it supports the linguistic empowerment of local bilingual speakers by highlighting the richness of their speech patterns. A key aspect of this research is exploring how social and demographic factors—such as age, gender, socioeconomic background, education, and language dominance—shape bilingual speech production and perception. Our aims are also providing a space for possible language documentation and preservation to local communities. Through the design of experiments, testing process and analysis of data, students will analyze how speakers from California perceive their own linguistic identities and how these perceptions influence their speech patterns.
What grants have supported our research so far? (Click me!)
The project started with the support of Summer SURF at CSUCI and continues its research with the support of Miller Foundation as part of its RSA program.
Where are we presenting our current data? (Click me!)
Our current study, “Rhythm and Speech Rate in Ventureño Spanish: A Speech Production Study of Mexican American Heritage Speakers in California,” was presented during the Summer SURF poster session at CSUCI and will also be presented at SCURR 2025 in November (Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research).
Vanina Machado Araújo 