speech science lec 11 phonation types

voice quality

a perceptual attribute that describes the sound of the voice beyond its pitch and loudness

vocal registers

a series of consecutive Fo’s of approximately equivalent vocal quality: a particular mode of vibration of the VF

3 types of vocal registers

• pulse/fry/creaky

• modal

• falsetto

based on perceptual judgments

pulse/glottal fry/vocal fry/creaky voice

• CT muscle is relaxed; IA muscle contracted

• minimal tension on VF; VF short and thick

• mass/unit length is increased, slow vib

4 features of vocal fry

1) low Fo: 30-50Hz for both men and women

2) prolonged duration of the closed phase

3) lower lung pressure than in modal voice

4) double closure pattern for each cycle

potentially harmful to the VF

vocal fry summary

• associated with low Fo

• vocal folds are pressed together but slack/relaxed

  • VF remain closed 90% each cycle of vib

• produced at lower subglottal pressure than modal voice

  • (frequently used at end of sentence when lung volume is low→suglottal pressure low

Modal voice (chest)

for men: 90-450Hz (90-100 Hz normal speaking voice)

for women: 150-520Hz

• VF remain closed 50% of each cycle of vibration

• higher subglottal pressure than vocal fry

• (normal speaking voice)

Falsetto (loft/head)

• frequencies above modal register

• CT contraction, VF elongated to limits of elasticity, decrease mass/length (skinny VF)

• increased stiffness; increase tension=increase elastic recoil forces

• reduced amp of mucosal wave vibration

• short closed phase (or complete lack)

breathy voicing in english (vocal quality not register)

• marilyn monroe

• voice produced with incomplete closure of VF

  • VF close enough to vib but has an opening where a continuous stream of air can escape through during speech

  • escaping air is audible as high frequency aperiodic noise

breathy voice summary

• LCA muscles contracted less than in modal voice

• IA muscle not contracted enough

• Constant subglottal leakage

• audible friction noise

• incomplete VF adduction

• used as a phonemic contrast in Hindi and Bantu

• glottal chink

Glottal chink

an opening at the back for air to escape

whisper (vocal quality)

• widely abducted VF (Y shape or V shape)

• low lung volume, greater airflow, low laryngeal airway resistance

• fewer syllables per breath group

• requires high airflow - inefficient way of speaking, painful due to tension

hoarseness

• describes a change in normal voice quality

• breathiness, roughness, voice breaks, or unnatural changes in pitch

• irregularities in laryngeal tissues (nodules,swelling); extreme tension on entire larynx; irregular VF vibration

pulse spectogram

• leaves an acoustic temporal gap

• VF closed 90% of the time

falsetto spectogram

• long + stiff = thinner quality sound

modal spectogram

subharmonic phonation

• variety of phonation patterns that give effect of lowered pitch; usually involves vibration of other laryngeal structures “false vocal folds”

ex: harsh voice, growl

alaryngeal phonation

• esophageal speech

• pharyngeal speech

• buccal speech

esophageal speech

very low frequencies 5—100 Hz, 5 words per breathe

buccal speech

air is held between upper jaw and cheeck and forced through a gap behind the teeth and into the mouth, higher Fo than laryngeal phonation

donald duck ahh

what does everyone do when tired or running out of breathe?

everyone does the vocal fry

(relaxed VF→more mass→long duration)