A Comparison of the Contributions of Two Voice Quality Characteristics to the Perception of Maleness and Femaleness in the Voice

1976 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph O. Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Female Voice ◽  
Basic Difference ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Vocal Tract Resonance ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
The Voice

Comparisons were made between the contributions of the fundamental frequency (F 0 ) on one hand, and vocal tract resonances on the other, to a perception of maleness and femaleness in the adult voice. In the first of two experiments, the F 0 of natural voice was found to be very highly correlated with the degree of maleness and femalenesss in the voice. The vocal tract resonances were less highly correlated and it is apparent that in the presence of the natural laryngeal tone, these perceptions are based on the frequency of the F 0 . In the second experiment, a tone produced by a laryngeal vibrator was substituted for the normal glottal tone at simulated F 0 's representing both males (120 Hz) and females (240 Hz). When listeners were asked to identify the sex of the speakers some inconsistency with the findings of the first experiment was seen. The female F 0 was a weak indicator of female voice quality when combined with male vocal tract resonance although the male F 0 retained the perceptual prominence seen in the first experiment. This finding may be indicative of some basic difference in the normal glottal characteristics of males and females.

scholarly journals Impact of Vocal Tract Resonance on the Perception of Voice Quality Changes Caused by Varying Vocal Fold Stiffness

2016 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosario Signorello ◽  
Zhaoyan Zhang ◽  
Bruce Gerratt ◽  
Jody Kreiman
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Quality Changes ◽  
Vocal Tract Resonance

Impact of speech therapy on the improvement of voice quality in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Anna Kuligowska ◽  
Barbara Jamróz ◽  
Joanna Chmielewska ◽  
Katarzyna Jędra ◽  
Tomasz Czernicki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Speech Therapy ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Maximum Phonation Time ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Vocal Fold Palsy ◽  
The Voice

Aim of study: Evaluation of the speech therapy on voice quality in patients with unilateral vocal fold palsy. Material and methods: The study group included 11 patients, 8 women and 3 men, in age between 16 to 72 years, with unilateral vocal fold palsy, diagnosed in ENT Department of Warsaw Medical University between 2017-2018. Each person completed questionnaires: the voice disability self-assessment scale (VHI), the voice-based quality of life (VRQoL) scale, the vocal tract discomfort scale (VTD). All questionnaires were completed twice, before and after the voice therapy. In addition, the acoustic analysis of the voice, the assessment of the maximum phonation time and the breathing tract were performed twice in each patient. Each of the patients had a voice rehabilitation consisting of a series of 10 meetings. Results: Statistical analysis of the results of maximum phonation time, the self-assessment of voice disability, the quality of life depending on the voice, discomfort of the vocal tract voice acoustic analysis showed statistically significant differences in the results before and after rehabilitation (p <0.005). In addition, the improvement of the respiratory tract was observed in the majority of patients. Conclusions: Speech therapy significantly affects the voice quality of patients with unilateral laryngeal nerve palsy.

scholarly journals Comparative perceptual evaluation and acoustic voice analysis of a transgender client male to female before and after laser-assisted voice adjustment surgery

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-55
Author(s):  
Gordana Varošanec-Škarić ◽  
Siniša Stevanović ◽  
Iva Bašić
Keyword(s):  
Voice Quality ◽  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
Female Voice ◽  
Normal Female ◽  
Male Voice ◽  
Perceptual Evaluation ◽  
Average Spectrum ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Voice ◽  
Male To Female

In this study, we examined changes in the voice quality of a transgender client who had previously undergone male-to-female (MtF) transition. We conducted a longitudinal phonetic analysis after obtaining recordings from our client before and after undergoing laser-assisted voice adjustment (LAVA) surgery. The following acoustic parameters were compared: fundamental frequency (F0) measures, local jitter, shimmer, harmonic to noise ratio, phonation time, and long-term average spectrum. We assumed that the voice would not change significantly as a result of previous hormonal and vocal therapy, and that its timbre would be closer to female values after LAVA surgery. Since the client was on hormone therapy before the surgery, the average values of F0 corresponded to the values of a normal female voice (190.1 Hz), and, after surgery, the voice became significantly higher in phonation (235.6 Hz). Before surgery, the voice was high for a male voice during reading (mean F0 = 150.19 Hz for non-fricative text (NT) and mean F0 = 158.06 Hz for fricative text (FT)). After surgery, the voice exhibited higher F0 values (F0 = 184.72 Hz for NT and F0 = 191.87 Hz for FT). Before surgery, the voice was average high for a male voice during spontaneous speech (F0 = 119.90 Hz), while after surgery the F0 was 161.33 Hz during spontaneous speech, which is somewhat lower than the average pitch values of the female voice, but its timbral quality is more feminine. Since spontaneous speech is very important for comparison vocal timbre, we can conclude that the 42 Hz difference observed is notable. Although the minimal and maximal values of F0 based on phonation were significantly higher after surgery (p < 0.001), the range was limited. The total results of the F0 measures are higher than expected, while the shortened phonation time points to the need for voice therapy. Considering all our results, we can conclude that it is important to discuss a client’s profession before considering LAVA surgery.

The Singing Voice

2018 ◽  
pp. 116-142
Author(s):  
Johan Sundberg
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Vocal Folds ◽  
Sound Level ◽  
Vowel Sound ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Voice Source ◽  
Subglottal Pressure ◽  
The Voice

The sound quality of singing is determined by three basic factors—the air pressure under the vocal folds (or the subglottal pressure), the mechanical properties of the vocal folds, and the resonance properties of the vocal tract. Subglottal pressure is controlled by the respiratory apparatus. It regulates vocal loudness and is varied with pitch in singing. Together with the mechanical properties of the folds, which are controlled by laryngeal muscles, it has a decisive influence on vocal fold vibrationswhich convert the tracheal airstream to a pulsating airflow, the voice source. The voice source determines pitch, vibrato, and register, and also the overall slope of the spectrum. The sound of the voice source is filtered by the resonances of the vocal tract, or the formants, of which the two lowest determine the vowel quality and the higher ones the personal voice quality. Timing is crucial for creating emotional expressivity; it uses an acoustic code that shows striking similarities to that used in speech. The perceived loudness of a vowel sound seems more closely related to the subglottal pressure with which it was produced than with the acoustical sound level. Some investigations of acoustical correlates of tone placement and variation of larynx height are described, as are properties that affect the perceived naturalness of synthesized singing. Finally, subglottal pressure, voice source, and formant-frequency characteristics of some non-classical styles of singing are discussed.

scholarly journals Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are sensitive to the correlation between pitch and timbre in human speech

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha K. Sturdy ◽  
David R. R. Smith ◽  
David N. George
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Vocal Folds ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Male Voice ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
The Voice

AbstractThe perceived pitch of human voices is highly correlated with the fundamental frequency (f0) of the laryngeal source, which is determined largely by the length and mass of the vocal folds. The vocal folds are larger in adult males than in adult females, and men’s voices consequently have a lower pitch than women’s. The length of the supralaryngeal vocal tract (vocal-tract length; VTL) affects the resonant frequencies (formants) of speech which characterize the timbre of the voice. Men’s longer vocal tracts produce lower frequency, and less dispersed, formants than women’s shorter vocal tracts. Pitch and timbre combine to influence the perception of speaker characteristics such as size and age. Together, they can be used to categorize speaker sex with almost perfect accuracy. While it is known that domestic dogs can match a voice to a person of the same sex, there has been no investigation into whether dogs are sensitive to the correlation between pitch and timbre. We recorded a female voice giving three commands (‘Sit’, ‘Lay down’, ‘Come here’), and manipulated the recordings to lower the fundamental frequency (thus lowering pitch), increase simulated VTL (hence affecting timbre), or both (synthesized adult male voice). Dogs responded to the original adult female and synthesized adult male voices equivalently. Their tendency to obey the commands was, however, reduced when either pitch or timbre was manipulated alone. These results suggest that dogs are sensitive to both the pitch and timbre of human voices, and that they learn about the natural covariation of these perceptual attributes.

The Vocal Tract in Singing

2016 ◽  
pp. 144-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Story
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Excitation Source ◽  
Critical Importance ◽  
Acoustic Characteristics ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Acoustic Resonances ◽  
The Voice ◽  
Vocal Tract Shape

Precise control of the vocal tract configuration is of critical importance for producing the desired acoustic characteristics of singing. The pattern of acoustic resonances generated by a given vocal tract shape influences vowel identity, voice quality (timbre), and, to some degree, the spectral characteristics of the voice excitation source itself. This chapter is broadly focused on how the vocal tract shape can be tuned (i.e., modified) in subtle ways to enhance the signal radiated from a singer to an audience. In particular, the vocal tract shape contributions to the “singing formant,” the enhancement of vibrato, and harmonic/formant alignment are discussed.

Impact of vocal tract resonance on the perception of voice quality changes caused by vocal fold stiffness

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 2295-2295
Author(s):  
Rosario Signorello ◽  
Zhaoyan Zhang ◽  
Bruce Gerratt ◽  
Jody Kreiman
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Quality Changes ◽  
Vocal Tract Resonance

Male and Female Voice Quality and Its Relationship to Vowel Formant Frequencies

1971 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph O. Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Single Frequency ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Formant Frequency ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Female Quality ◽  
Vowel Formant ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Individual

Speech samples obtained from a group of adult males and females while they articulated the tone produced by a single-frequency electrolarynx were played to a panel of listeners who were asked to determine the sex of each speaker. Formant frequencies for the vowels /i/ and /u/ produced in isolation by the same speakers were obtained by spectrographic analysis. The judges were able to correctly identify the sex of the speakers 88% of the time, and vowel formant frequency averages were closely associated with the degree of male or female quality in these voices. These findings indicate that in the absence of between-subject variations in laryngeal fundamental frequency, a distinct cue to speaker sex may be contained in the individual vocal tract resonances.

Does neuromonitoring affect voice quality in patients subjected to a complete thyroidectomy ?

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Piotr Bryk ◽  
Stanislaw Głuszek
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Voice Quality ◽  
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Laryngeal Nerves ◽  
Vocal Fold Palsy ◽  
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves ◽  
The Voice

Voice dysfunction is the most common complication of thyroid surgery. The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is to protect the recurrent laryngeal nerves, the damage of which causes voice dysfunction. The aim of the study was to evaluate voice quality in patients who underwent complete thyroidectomy operated on with the application of IONM as well as a group of patients operated on with only macroscopic nerve visualization. In the analysis, clinical voice assessment was performed with particular focus on voice efficiency using the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD) and GRBAS scale. The study group consisted of 205 patients operated on with IONM. The control group consisted of 162 patients subjected to surgery only with macroscopic visualization of recurrent laryngeal nerves, without IONM. During the follow-up period from 2 to 10 years after surgery, checkups were performed. Each patient who came for a checkup was subjected to perceptual voice evaluation with the use of the GRBAS scale, indirect laryngoscopy procedure and voice selfevaluation with two questionnaires (VHI and VTD). The frequency of vocal fold palsy did not differ significantly statistically in the study group and the control group. Both in the study group and in the control group, patients with vocal fold paralysis had statistically significantly higher results in the VHI and VTD questionnaires as well as in the GRBAS study. Patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve injury show significant differences in the scope of voice handicap, both in the voice quality assessment with the use of the GRBAS scale, and self-evaluation questionnaires: VHI and VTD. All voice disorders evaluated with self-assessment are medium voice disability.

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