Body-Grounded Speech Rhythm: Ubiquitous Interactions between Speech, Breathing, and Limb Movements

In spoken communication, one can observe a near-constant presence of both communicative gestures and noncommunicative movements, involving the limbs for actions or locomotion. This suggests that the physical underpinning of spoken communication extends beyond the articulatory system. It may find its roots in breathing, a pivotal element that plays a crucial role in the control and rhythms of both speech and limb movement. This hypothesis has recently garnered attention in interdisciplinary research. Within this framework, this chapter examines evidence of the impact of breathing and limb movements on speech rhythms. First, it highlights breathing as a fundamental rhythm unique to speakers, acting as a conductor for the temporal organization of speech at various linguistic levels. The chapter then further explores the influence of co-speech gestures and noncommunicative motions on the temporal organization of speech. The intricate interplay between speech and breathing, as well as speech and motion, conceptualizes breathing as a potential bridge connecting speech and limb motions at different levels.