Building charisma and trust with prosodic constructions

Abstract The present paper uses a perception experiment to investigate which prosodic factors determine the perceived charisma and trustworthiness conveyed by phrase-final intonation contours. The following factors were manipulated using PSOLA resynthesis and combined into 16 stimuli: phrase-final pitch level (low vs. half-low), shape of fall (accelerated vs. decelerated), nuclear pitch-accent timing (H+L* vs. L+H*), and final lengthening (present vs. absent). Authentic statements by two U.S. politicians, a man and a woman, served as base stimuli. Forty native speakers of American-English rated the stimuli. Results showed that all factors influenced the listeners. The highest ratings were achieved by low and steep final falls, early H+L* pitch accent, and without final lengthening. Moreover, the rating levels for the female stimuli were generally higher but declined more under unfavorable phrase-final patterns. The results are in line with previous studies and are discussed with regard to practical implications and the notion of prosodic constructions.