Résumé
"This dissertation presents a descriptive study of the prosodic characteristics of suspects' speech during investigative interviews with police. During police interviews, investigators direct conversation by asking suspects questions and making assertions thereby placing the suspect in the position of responding. Based on whether the suspect is a first-time or repeat offender, and the type of information suspects produce, responses are categorized and examined for their properties of pause, tempo, and pitch. ... The findings noted above are discussed in relation to previous studies that address the prosodic characteristics of discourse and emotion. Furthermore, on the basis of these findings, prosodic profiles of response categories for first-time offenders and repeat offenders are created. The potential for forensic application of these profiles is discussed, particularly with respect to deception." --Abstract.