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Voice-to-MIDI real-time conversion is a challenging problem that comes with a series of obstacles and complications. The main issue is the tracking of the human voice pitch. Extracting the voice fundamental frequency can be inaccurate and highly computationally exacting due to the spectral complexity of voice signals. In addition, on account of microphone usage, the presence of environmental noise can further affect voice processing. An analysis of the current research and status of the market shows a plethora of voice-to-MIDI implementations revolving around the processing of audio signals deriving from microphones. This paper addresses the above-mentioned issues by implementing a novel experimental method where electroglottography is employed instead of microphones as a source for pitch-tracking. In the proposed system, the signal is processed and converted through an embedded hardware device. The use of electroglottography improves both the accuracy of pitch evaluation and the ease of voice information processing; firstly, it provides a direct measurement of the vocal folds' activity and, secondly, it bypasses the interferences caused by external sound sources. This allows the extraction of a simpler and cleaner signal that yields a more effective evaluation of the fundamental frequency during phonation. The proposed method delivers a faster and less computationally demanding conversion thus in turn, allowing for an efficacious real-time voice-to-MIDI conversion.

Introduction Electroglottography (EGG) is the most commonly used method of indirect visual examination of vocal fold vibration. Aim The study was conducted with an aim of assessing EGG quasi open quotient (QOQEGG) in different functional dysphonias to develop a differential diagnosis. The second aim was to check the influence of articulation on QOQEGG values. Material and methods There were 20 people without voice problems, 20 patients with hypofunctional dysphonia and 20 patients with hyperfunctional dysphonia included in the study. Electroglottography was recorded during comfortable sustained phonation of [a], [e], [i], [o], [u]. Results There were no statistically significant differences in QOQEGG observed during phonation of different vowels in the control group and patients with hyperfunctional dysphonia. In patients with hypofunctional dysphonia, significantly higher values of QOQEGG were observed during [a] and [e]. Both in the control and in studied groups vowel [i] was vocalized significantly quieter. Conclusions To conclude, EGG can be useful in differential diagnosis of functional dysphonia. QOQEGG is a parameter differentiating hypofunctional dysphonia from hyperfunctional dysphonia. Dissimilarities in articulation of different vowels in patients with various types of dysphonia influence values of QOQEGG. EGG study protocol in cases of functional dysphonia should include a comparison of [a], [e], [i] vowels.

International audience; Previous research has showed that singers and instrumentalist musicians tend to adapt their sound production to theacoustics of the venue in which they perform. Studying such an adaptation process is not trivial since many parametersare to be taken into account. For example, various performances can dier due to aspects of the halls other than acoustic,the interaction with the audience, or the physical and psychological state of the performer. A specific methodology hasbeen used to study how singers vary their sound production when they perform in dierent acoustical spaces withina short period of time. Virtual concert halls were proposed to four singers who could hear themselves in reverberantsound fields by means of a real-time convolution process and dynamic binaural synthesis. The signals captured bya microphone in near-field and by an electroglottography unit were analysed and yielded several parameters relatedto voice production, namely vocal intensity, fundamental frequency, and glottal contact quotient. These voice-qualityparameters were compared to room acoustical parameters from the eight dierent rooms proposed to the singers. Resultsshowed that the singers reacted in specific manners by varying their voice quality and being sensitive to dierent roomacoustical parameters.

The development of larynx simulators as platforms for clinical investigations has been identified as a useful tool for understanding the pathophysiology of vocal folds. The primary goal of this study was the realization of electrically conductive silicone vocal folds able to replicate an electroglottography (EGG) signal under pathophysiological conditions, in order to provide a quantitative method for monitoring the vocal folds vibratory characteristics. Both simulators showed an oscillatory behavior similar to human counterpart, thanks to the materials used for their realization. In addition, the synthetic simulators are made conductive by a silicone-based conductive solution applied to the surface of the synthetic vocal folds, in order to acquire an electrical signal to be compared to an EGG signal. Results showed a direct correlation between conductance variation and the occurrence of vocal folds contact, as it happens for the real EGG signal. In addition, results suggested that both simulators are able to replicate the vibratory characteristics of healthy and pathological vocal folds and to reproduce an electrical signal that is comparable to a real EGG. This will represent a powerful tool to characterize and cluster different vocal folds pathologies, which can lead to a significant improvement of prevention programs and an early diagnosis for laryngeal diseases.

Electromyography and electroglottography are exploration techniques that, combined with biofeedback, enable muscle adjustments in the issuer to improve phonatory function. We therefore intend to determine the effects of electrographic biofeedback to increase or decrease the tone in the muscles that involves indirectly or directly in the production of the voice, to identify the effects of electroglottographic biofeedback to produce changes in the vibratory pattern of the vocal folds and, finally, to determine the frequency of biofeedback in vocal treatment, starting from systematic review in papers published since 2000 in speech therapy and laryngological journals. The analysis of the studies obtained in the documentation process suggests that the use of electromyographic and electroglottographic biofeedback can produce lasting changes over time in the vibratory pattern of vocal folds and in the muscle activity of vocal production, so that could be a useful instrument added to vocal intervention based on evidence. The data in relation to frequency of use of this instrument, however, does not seem conclusive. La electromiografía y electroglotografía son técnicas de exploración que, combinadas con el biofeedback, permiten en el emisor ajustes musculares para la mejora de la función fonatoria. Nos proponemos, pues, determinar los efectos del biofeedback electromiográfico para aumentar o disminuir el tono en los músculos que intervienen de manera indirecta o directa en la producción de la voz, identificar los efectos del biofeedback electroglográfico para producir cambios en el patrón vibratorio de los pliegues vocales y, finalmente, determinar la frecuencia del biofeedback en el tratamiento vocal, a partir de una revisión sistemática de los trabajos publicados desde el año 2000 en revistas logopédicas y laringológicas. El análisis de los estudios obtenidos en el proceso de documentación sugiere que el uso del biofeedback electromiográfico y electroglotográfico puede producir cambios perdurables en el tiempo sobre el patrón vibratorio de los pliegues vocales y en la actividad muscular de la producción vocal, de manera que podría ser un instrumento útil añadido a la intervención vocal basadaen la evidencia. Los datos relativos a la frecuencia de uso necesaria de este instrumento, sin embargo, no parecen concluyentes.

Data of 'An exploratory study of the voicing effect in Italian and Polish'

Research compendium for the talk 'Quantifying vocal fold activity: two new methods for analysing electroglottographic data'

Research compendium of the paper 'An exploratory study of voicing-related differences in vowel duration as compensatory temporal adjustment in Italian and Polish'

Voiced stops tend to be preceded by longer vowels and produced with a more advanced tongue root than voiceless stops. The duration of a vowel is modulated by the voicing of the stop that follows and in many languages vowels are longer when followed by voiced stops. Tongue root advancement is known to be an articulatory mechanism which ensures the right pressure conditions for the maintenance of voicing during closure as dictated by the Aerodynamic Voicing Constraint. In this paper, it is argued that vowel duration and tongue root advancement enter in a direct statistical relation. Drawing from acoustic and ultrasound tongue imaging data from 17 speakers of Italian and Polish, it is shown that tongue root advancement is initiated during the vowel, andthatvoweldurationandtonguerootpositionatvoweloffsetarepositivelycorrelated. Longer vowel durations correspond to greater tongue root advancement. It is further proposed that the later closure onset of voiced stops within a temporally stable interval is responsible for both greater root advancement and shorter closure durations in the context of voiced stops.

Research compendium of 'Assessing mid-saggital tongue contours in polar coordinates using generalised additive (mixed) models'

Research hub of the PhD project 'Vowel duration and consonant voicing: A production study'

Objectives: To confirm the data reported in our previous studies on the analysis of the variability of the electroglottographic signal in the pathological voice; to evaluate possible differences in variability between organic and functional pathologies; to identify any distinctive/typical EGG patterns for these pathologies. Methods: One hundred twenty-five subjects were enrolled (36 euphonic and 89 pathological: 24 functional dysphonia, 21 bilateral vocal nodules, 23 unilateral polyps and 21 unilateral cysts). All subjects were studied with videolaryngostroboscopy, spectrographic analysis of voice and electroglottography (EGG). The EGG signal variability was then investigated using amplitude-speed combined analysis, by means of a proprietary software algorithm. Amplitude and Speed variation were expressed as a new parameter, the Variability Index (VI), calculated both for the whole EGG signal recorded (VI-tot) and in each phase of the glottic cycle (VI-Q, absolute value; VI-Q%, percentage value). Results: In the comparison of VI values between pathological and normal groups, VI-tot and VI-Q2% (which corresponds to the final phase of vocal fold contact) were significantly greater in pathological subjects (P= 0.002). The comparison of VI values among subgroups of the various pathologies showed a difference for VI-tot (P< 0.0001) and VI-Q2% (P= 0.001); this difference was more marked in the cysts than in the functional dysphonia. The cut-off values of VI-tot and VI-Q2% were 0.191 and 18.17%, respectively (sensitivity and specificity 65.2% and 66.7% for VI-tot and 84.3% and 77.8% for VI-Q2%). Conclusions: The variability of the EGG signal investigated through the combined analysis of the amplitude and the speed of vibration using a proprietary algorithm software has proved useful not only to distinguish the normal voice from the pathological voice, but also to characterize which phases are more altered in the various voice pathologies studied, both functional and organic. Furthermore, the analysis of the VI parameter allowed to propose cut-off values characterized by a good sensitivity and specificity to discriminate dysphonia from the euphonic voice. Larger groups of patients will be needed to confirm these results.

Resumen Introducción: Los docentes son usuarios ocupacionales de la voz con alto riesgo de desarrollar patologías vocales a causa de su labor. Para enfrentar esta problemática, suelen usarse ejercicios con tracto vocal semiocluido (TVSO), estrategia de educación/rehabilitación empleada para generar un cambio en el patrón de vibración de los pliegues vocales, minimizando el riesgo de lesión vocal al reducir el estrés de colisión al que se someten los tejidos. Diversos reportes han indicado que este tratamiento tiene efectos en el cociente de cierre (CQ), medida indirecta del estrés de colisión. Objetivo: Examinar el efecto fisiológico de dos ejercicios con TVSO en la actividad laríngea de profesores con esfuerzo vocal constante pero sin patología vocal. Metodología: Se registraron muestras de 43 profesores antes, durante y después de la realización de dos ejercicios con TVSO (vibración lingual y fonación en tubos). Las muestras de electroglotografía se analizaron para obtener el CQ. Resultados y conclusión: Se observó una diferencia significativa al comparar los valores del CQ antes y durante la realización de ambos ejercicios. No se encontraron cambios en este parámetro después de ejecutar la actividad. Estos hallazgos concuerdan con reportes previos en los cuales el CQ tiende a aumentar durante la fonación en tubos; contrariamente, la realización de la vibración lingual tiende a decrecer el valor del CQ. Es posible que este comportamiento se deba a los mecanismos biomecánicos particulares de cada ejercicio. Abstract Introduction: Teachers are occupational voice users with high risk of developing vocal pathologies due to their work. To face this situation, it is common the use of semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises, a strategy of voice education/rehabilitation implemented to induce a change in the vibration pattern of the vocal folds, mitigating, therefore, the risk of vocal lesion by reducing the collision stress applied to tissues. A variety of reports have indicated that this treatment has effects in the closed quotient (CQ), an indirect measure of collision stress. Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the physiological effect of two different SOVT exercises in larynx activity of teachers with constant vocal effort but without vocal pathology. Methods: 43 samples of teachers were recorded before, during and after executing two SOVT exercises (tongue trill and tube phonation). Electroglottographic samples were analyzed in order to obtain CQ. Results and conclusion: Both exercises had a significant difference of CQ scores when before and during conditions were compared. Any difference was found on this parameter after executing the activity. These findings agree with previous reports where CQ tends to increase during phonation through resonance tubes; on the contrary, execution of tongue trill tends to decrease CQ values. This behavior might be because of the particular biomechanical mechanisms of each exercise.

Summary Objective Electroglottography (EGG) is a widely used noninvasive method that purports to measure changes in relative vocal fold contact area (VFCA) during phonation. Despite its broad application, the putative direct relation between the EGG waveform and VFCA has to date only been formally tested in a single study, suggesting an approximately linear relationship. However, in that study, flow-induced vocal fold (VF) vibration was not investigated. A rigorous empirical evaluation of EGG as a measure of VFCA under proper physiological conditions is therefore still needed. Methods/design Three red deer larynges were phonated in an excised hemilarynx preparation using a conducting glass plate. The time-varying contact between the VF and the glass plate was assessed by high-speed video recordings at 6000 fps, synchronized to the EGG signal. Results The average differences between the normalized [0, 1] VFCA and EGG waveforms for the three larynges were 0.180 (±0.156), 0.075 (±0.115), and 0.168 (±0.184) in the contacting phase and 0.159 (±0.112), −0.003 (±0.029), and 0.004 (±0.032) in the decontacting phase. Discussions and conclusions Overall, there was a better agreement between VFCA and the EGG waveform in the decontacting phase than in the contacting phase. Disagreements may be caused by nonuniform tissue conductance properties, electrode placement, and electroglottograph hardware circuitry. Pending further research, the EGG waveform may be a reasonable first approximation to change in medial contact area between the VFs during phonation. However, any quantitative and statistical data derived from EGG should be interpreted cautiously, allowing for potential deviations from true VFCA.

Singing voice is a human quality that requires the precise coordination of numerous kinetic functions and results in a perceptually variable auditory outcome. The use of multi-sensor systems can facilitate the study of correlations between the vocal mechanism kinetic functions and the voice output. This is directly relevant to vocal education, rehabilitation, and prevention of vocal health issues in educators; professionals; and students of singing, music, and acting. In this work, we present the initial design of a modular multi-sensor system for singing voice analysis, and describe its first assessment experiment on the ‘vocal breathiness’ qualitative characteristic. A system case study with two professional singers was conducted, utilizing signals from four sensors. Participants sung a protocol of vocal trials in various degrees of intended vocal breathiness. Their (i) vocal output, (ii) phonatory function, and (iii) respiratory behavior-per-condition were recorded through a condenser microphone (CM), an Electroglottograph (EGG), and thoracic and abdominal respiratory effort transducers (RET), respectively. Participants’ individual respiratory management strategies were studied through qualitative analysis of RET data. Microphone audio samples breathiness degree was rated perceptually, and correlation analysis was performed between sample ratings and parameters extracted from CM and EGG data. Smoothed Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPPS) and vocal folds’ Open Quotient (OQ), as computed with the Howard method (HOQ), demonstrated the higher correlation coefficients, when analyzed individually. DECOM method-computed OQ (DOQ) was also examined. Interestingly, the correlation coefficient of pitch difference between estimates from CM and EGG signals appeared to be (based on the Pearson correlation coefficient) statistically insignificant (a result that warrants investigation in larger populations). The study of multi-variate models revealed even higher correlation coefficients. Models studied were the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) and the proposed multiple regression model CDH (CPPS, DOQ, and HOQ), which was attempted in order to combine analysis results from microphone and EGG signals. The model combination of ABI and the proposed CDH appeared to yield the highest correlation with perceptual breathiness ratings. Study results suggest potential for the use of a completed system version in vocal pedagogy and research, as the case study indicated system practicality, a number of pertinent correlations, and introduced topics with further research possibilities.

Background Until now, it has been impossible to discriminate a pathology of the vocal folds and, in many instances, even to distinguish normal from pathological voices with an electroglottographic signal (EGG). Objectives To introduce a method for analyzing electroglottographic signals and for extracting features able to characterize phonation quantitatively. Methods The EGG signal recorded during a continuous vocal phonation is processed in order to obtain the first derivative, which is related to the velocity of movements and contact of the vocal folds. The average fundamental frequency is computed and its corresponding period is taken as the typical duration of the EGG cycle. After each glottal cycle has been identified, the EGG signal and its derivative are locally normalized in time. For each glottal cycle, the amplitude and related velocity signals are plotted in an X-Y graph thus forming a multi-layer display where each EGG cycle appears as a circular trace. This X-Y representation can be viewed as a polar graph: by increasing the angle from 0 to 360° with incremental steps corresponding to the time normalization re-sampling of the EGG cycle, mean value and variance are computed. The results are the curve of the amplitude-velocity mean cycle and the related variance curve. The shape of the mean loop is strictly associated with the relationships between amplitude-velocity changes and phonation phases. The surrounding area represents the variability of local vocal phenomena around the above mean curve. The phonation process can be characterized in more detail by computing couples of indices (mean and variance) as obtained by dividing the polar graph in 4 quadrants, roughly associated with the different phases of the glottal cycle. In our study we carried out the EGG analysis of 21 cases of normal voice and 21 cases of pathological voice, considering the variability based on the combined amplitude-velocity analysis. Results In normal subjects, the global variability indices (VI) (expression of Amplitude and Velocity variation) and the four VI of different physiological phases of glottal wave (VI1, VI2, VI3 and VI4), were definitely lower than in pathological subjects. Such difference was statistically significant (p Conclusions The above method for analyzing the EGG signal proved to be efficient to discriminate normal subjects from pathological ones. Additional trials with more subjects are needed to confirm this preliminary data and to evaluate possible differences between different pathologies.

The empirical mode decomposition (EMD) decomposes non-stationary signals that may stem from nonlinear systems, in a local and fully data-driven manner. Noise-assisted versions have been proposed to alleviate the so-called “mode mixing” phenomenon, which may appear when real signals are analyzed. Among them, the complete ensemble EMD with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) recovered the completeness property of EMD. In this work we present improvements on this last technique, obtaining components with less noise and more physical meaning. Artificial signals are analyzed to illustrate the capabilities of the new method. Finally, several real biomedical signals are decomposed, obtaining components that represent physiological phenomenons. Fil: Colominas, Marcelo Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Matemática e Informática. Laboratorio de Señales y Dinámicas no Lineales; Argentina Fil: Schlotthauer, Gaston. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Matemática e Informática. Laboratorio de Señales y Dinámicas no Lineales; Argentina Fil: Torres, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería. Departamento de Matemática e Informática. Laboratorio de Señales y Dinámicas no Lineales; Argentina

International audience; Six male music theatre singers were recorded in three different voice qualities: legit and two types of belt (‘chesty’ and ‘twangy’), on two vowels ([e] and [ɔ]), at four increasing pitches in the upper limit of each singer’s belt range (~250-440 Hz). The audio signal, the electroglottographic (EGG) signal and the vocal tract impedance were all measured simultaneously. Voice samples were analyzed and then evaluated perceptually by sixteen expert listeners. The three qualities were produced with significant differences at the physiological, acoustical and perceptual levels: Singers produced belt qualities with a higher EGG contact quotient (CQEGG) and greater contacting speed quotient (Qcs), greater sound pressure level (SPL) and energy above 1kHz (alpha ratio), and with higher frequencies of the first two vocal tract resonances (fR1, fR2), especially in the upper pitch range when compared to legit. Singers produced the chesty belt quality with higher CQEGG, Qcs and SPL values and lower alpha ratios over the whole belt range, and with higher fR1 at the higher pitch range when compared to twangy belt. Consistent tuning of fR1 to the second voice harmonic (2f0) was observed in all three qualities and for both vowels. Expert listeners tended to identify all qualities based on the same acoustical and physiological variations as those observed in the singers’ intended qualities.

International audience; The use of high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) for the assessment of vocal-fold vibrations dictates the development of efficient techniques for glottal image segmentation. We present a new glottal segmentation method using a local-based active contour framework. The use of local-based features and the exploitation of the vibratory pattern allows for dealing effectively with image noise and cases where the glottal area consists of multiple regions. A scheme for precise glottis localization is introduced, which facilitates the segmentation procedure. The method has been tested on a database of 60 HSV recordings. Comparisons with manual verification resulted in less than 1% difference on the average glottal area. These errors mainly come from detection failure in the posterior or anterior parts of the glottal area. Comparisons with automatic threshold-based glottal detection point out the necessity of complete frameworks for automatic detection. The glottovibrogram (GVG), a representation of glottal vibration is also presented. This easily readable representation depicts the time-varying distance of the vocal-fold edges.

International audience; This study, focused on the laryngeal source level, introduces the concept of laryngeal vibratory mechanism. Human phonation is characterized by the use of four laryngeal mechanisms, labeled M0-M3, as evidenced by the electroglottographic (EGG) study of the transition phenomena between mechanisms with a population of men and women, trained and untrained singers. Macroscopic and local descriptions of the EGG signal are analyzed during the production of glissandos and held notes with different mechanisms. The transition from one mechanism to another of higher rank is characterized by a jump in frequency, a reduction of EGG amplitude, and a change in the shape of the derivative of the EGG (which may correspond to a reduction of the vibratory mass). These characteristics are used to identify a transition between two mechanisms, in complement with acoustic spectrographic analyses. The pitches of transitions between the two main mechanisms M1 and M2 and the range of the frequency-overlap region are described in detail. The notion of vocal register is revisited in the light of these concepts of laryngeal mechanism. The literature on vocal registers is reviewed, and it is shown that the confusion often cited with respect to this notion may be related to the heterogeneity of the approaches and methods used to describe the phenomena and to the multiplicity of descriptors. Therefore, the terminology of the registers is organized depending on their relation to the four laryngeal vibratory mechanisms.

This study examined efficacy of the innate immune defence via the mannose binding lectin (MBL) in a cohort of 55 dystonic patients prospectively referred to the clinic with laryngeal mucosal complaints, who were placed on local steroids (budesonid inhaler, 400 μg 2 times daily) and antihistamines (fexofenadin 180 mg mostly 3 times daily) with adjuvant lifestyle corrections. Treatment efficacy of the larynx was assessed based on mucosal findings of the vocal folds examined with phonatory function studies (PhFS) comprising simultaneous high-speed digital images, kymography, electroglottography and voice acoustics combined with a visual score of arytenoids oedema, as these measures are indicative of the magnitude of laryngitis. Lactose and gluten intolerance and immunological analyses of the innate system were made systematically. Results showed that the genetic aspects of immunology did not reveal a role for the innate immune system, represented by the MBL. But an unexpected positive effect of the larynx treatment on dystonia symptoms was found evidenced by reduction of dystonic complaints and more normative results of PhFS, and a reduction of oedema of the inter arytenoids region. Symptoms relieve and better quality of life was observed on follow-up for the dystonia complaints.

Impedance glottography, or electroglottography, is a noninvasive technique for monitoring the variation of the degree of contact between the vibrating vocal cords during voice production. Electrical impedance is sensed using a pair of electrodes placed on either side of the larynx, by injecting a low-level high-frequency current. A wide-band impedance detector circuit has been developed using a precision rectifier based on voltage feedback clamping amplifier and approximately linear-phase lowpass filter. The circuit can be used for obtaining electroglottogram signal for diagnosis of vocal fold disorders.

The paper offers a new concept of studying abrupt chest-falsetto register transitions Clumps) based on the theory of nonlinear dynamics. The jumps were studied in an excised human larynx and in three living subjects tone female and two male). Data from the excised larynx revealed that a small and gradual change in tension of the vocal folds can cause an abrupt change of register and pitch. This gives evidence that the register jumps are manifestations of bifurcations in the vocal-fold vibratory mechanism: A hysteresis was observed; the upward register jump occurred at higher pitches and tensions than the downward jump. Due to the hysteresis, the chest and falsetto registers can be produced with practically identical laryngeal adjustments within a certain range of longitudinal tensions. The magnitude of the frequency jump was measured as the "leap ratio" F(0F):F(0C) (fundamental frequency of. the falsetto related to that of the chest register) and alternatively expressed as a corresponding musical interval, termed the ''leap interval." Ranges of this leap interval were found to be different for the three living subjects (0-5 semitones for the female, 5-10 and 10-17 for the two males, respectively). These differences are considered to reflect different biomechanical properties of the, vocal folds of the examined subjects. A small magnitude of the leap interval was associated with a smooth chest-falsetto transition in the female subject. (C) 1999 Acoustical Society of America. [S0001-4966(99)06308-0].

All languages in the Vietic subbranch of Austroasiatic have at least one glottalized tone. This thesis zooms in on one of these languages: Muong (in Vietnamese orthography: Mường, endonym: /mon³/), spoken in Kim Thuong (Phu Tho, Vietnam). Twenty speakers recorded twelve tonal minimal sets of the five tones of smooth syllables, plus three tonal minimal pairs of the two tones of checked syllables, under two conditions: in isolation and in a carrier sentence. Acoustic and electroglottographic recordings allow for estimating fundamental frequency, glottal open quotient and duration. These parameters are compared across tones, experimental conditions and speakers, in order to contribute to a better understanding of glottalization as a feature of linguistic tones. First, allotones of the phonologically glottalized tone in Muong (Tone 4) are classified on a phonetic basis, confirming the consistent presence of creak. It is tempting to contrast it with the glottally constricted tones of Northern Vietnamese (with which Muong is in sustained language contact). However, the phonological discussion emphasizes that analysis of Tone 4 as a prototypical "creaky tone" would be a pitfall. Tone 4 behaves in key respects like the other tones in the system: it is not defined solely by phonation type. Moreover, the range of phonetic (allotonic) variation of Tone 4 includes cases of glottal constriction. Use of a phonetic nomenclature for types of glottalization serves as a basis for describing the interaction of glottalization with intonation., Toutes les langues de la branche viétique de la famille austroasiatique possèdent au moins un ton glottalisé. La présente thèse se concentre sur l'une de ces langues : le muong (en orthographe vietnamienne : Mường, endonyme : /mon³/), parlé à Kim Thuong (Phu Tho, Vietnam). Vingt locuteurs ont enregistré douze ensembles minimaux des cinq tons des syllabes sans occlusives finales, et trois paires minimales des deux tons des syllabes à occlusives finales, dans deux conditions : à l'isolée et dans une phrase-cadre. Les signaux acoustiques et électroglottographiques recueillis permettent d'estimer fréquence fondamentale, quotient ouvert et durée. Ces paramètres sont comparés entre tons, entre conditions expérimentales et entre locuteurs, afin de parvenir à une meilleure compréhension de la glottalisation en tant que caractéristique d'un ton lexical. Tout d'abord, les allotones du ton phonologiquement glottalisé en muong (le ton 4) sont classés sur des bases phonétiques. Il est tentant d'opposer ce ton, caractérisé par la présence régulière d'une voix craquée, avec les tons B2 et C2 du vietnamien du nord (avec lequel le muong est en contact linguistique soutenu), caractérisés par une constriction glottale. Cependant, une analyse phonologique du ton 4 comme prototype de " ton en voix craquée " masquerait la complexité des faits : le ton 4 fait partie d'un système au sein duquel il n'est pas défini exclusivement par un type de phonation. En outre, la plage de variation allotonique du ton 4 comprend des cas de constriction glottale. Une nomenclature phonétique des types de glottalisation sert de base à la description du ton 4 et de son interaction avec l'intonation.

International audience; Vietnamese is a tone language in which the tone is a complex bundle of pitch and voice quality characteristics. The present study is restricted to Falling tones (i.e. it does not cover tone C2, called nga in Vietnamese spelling, which has medial glottalisation and ends on relatively high pitch), and deals mainly with tone C1 (hoi). This tone is generally described as falling then rising, but interestingly, some speakers realise it simply as falling. The primary aim of this paper is to investigate how these speakers maintain tone C1 distinct from two tones which are similar in terms of pitch: tones A2 (huyen) and B2 (nang). Analysis of audio and electroglottographic recordings of 7 speakers (441 syllables) confirms that there exist two types of strategies in the realisation of tone C1, and that in the falling realisation of C1, the voice quality at the end of the syllable differs from that of tones A2 and B2. It is further observed that this voice quality contrast cannot be captured by measurement of the open quotient alone, leading to general observations on the use of the open quotient in the characterisation of phenomena of glottalisation.