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Human Speech: A Restricted Use of the Mammalian Larynx
- Source :
- Journal of Voice. 31:135-141
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Summary Purpose Speech has been hailed as unique to human evolution. Although the inventory of distinct sounds producible with vocal tract articulators is a great advantage in human oral communication, it is argued here that the larynx as a sound source in speech is limited in its range and capability because a low fundamental frequency is ideal for phonemic intelligibility and source-filter independence. Method Four existing data sets were combined to make an argument regarding exclusive use of the larynx for speech: (1) range of fundamental frequency, (2) laryngeal muscle activation, (3) vocal fold length in relation to sarcomere length of the major laryngeal muscles, and (4) vocal fold morphological development. Results Limited data support the notion that speech tends to produce a contracture of the larynx. The morphological design of the human vocal folds, like that of primates and other mammals, appears to be optimized for vocal communication over distances for which higher fundamental frequency, higher intensity, and fewer unvoiced segments are used. Conclusion The positive message is that raising one's voice to call, shout, or sing, or executing pitch glides to stretch the vocal folds, can counteract this trend toward a contracted state.
- Subjects :
- Larynx
medicine.medical_specialty
Voice Quality
Computer science
Speech recognition
Vocal Cords
Intelligibility (communication)
Audiology
Models, Biological
01 natural sciences
Speech Acoustics
Article
03 medical and health sciences
Speech and Hearing
0302 clinical medicine
Phonation
0103 physical sciences
Pressure
medicine
Humans
030223 otorhinolaryngology
010301 acoustics
Human voice
Esophageal speech
LPN and LVN
Adaptation, Physiological
Biological Evolution
Biomechanical Phenomena
Sound
medicine.anatomical_structure
Otorhinolaryngology
Vocal folds
Laryngeal Muscle
Laryngeal Muscles
Singing
Vocal tract
Muscle Contraction
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 08921997
- Volume :
- 31
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Voice
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....ca916023089a0d7cd508f472eb4ebecb