Glottal airflow and transglottal air pressure measurements for male and female speakers in soft, normal, and loud voice

TLDR

The study discusses how biomechanical and voice source differences between genders and across loudness levels may be relevant. The authors recorded noninvasive airflow and pressure during syllable sequences in soft, normal, and loud voice from 25 male and 20 female speakers to estimate glottal waveform, transglottal pressure, and airflow. Statistical analysis revealed that loud voice increased pressure, airflow, and maximum airflow declination rate for both genders, while soft voice decreased these measures and increased dc and average flow; no gender differences were found in pressure during loudness, but waveform parameters distinguished males and females in normal and loud voice, with males showing higher ac flow and maximum declination rate.

Abstract

Measurements on the inverse filtered airflow waveform (the "glottal waveform") and of estimated average transglottal pressure and glottal airflow were made from noninvasive recordings of productions of syllable sequences in soft, normal, and loud voice for 25 male and 20 female speakers. Statistical analyses showed that with change from normal to loud voice, both males and females produced loud voice with increased pressure, accompanied by increased ac flow and increased maximum airflow declination rate. With change from normal voice, soft voice was produced with decreased pressure, ac flow and maximum airflow declination rate, and increased dc and average flow. Within the loudness conditions, there was no significant male-female difference in air pressure. Several glottal waveform parameters separated males and females in normal and loud voice. The data indicate higher ac flow and higher maximum airflow declination rate for males. In soft voice, the male and female glottal waveforms were more alike, and there was no significant difference in maximum airflow declination rate. The dc flow did not differ significantly between males and females. Possible relevance to biomechanical differences and differences in voice source characteristics between males and females and across loudness conditions is discussed.