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

Abstract

Measurements on the inverse filtered airflow waveform (the “glottal waveform”) and of estimated average transglottal pressure and glottal airflow were made for production of syllable sequences in soft, normal, and loud voice by 20 female and 25 male speakers. Statistical analyses showed that, while there was no significant female‐male difference in pressure within any of the loudness conditions, there were significant female‐male differences in the glottal waveform parameters that should be relevant to differences in voice source characteristics. In normal and loud voice, female waveforms indicated lower vocal fold closing velocity, lower ac (modulated) flow, and proportionally shorter closed phase of the cycle, suggesting a steeper spectral slope for females. In soft voice, female ac flow was significantly lower than males', but there were no significant differences in female‐male closing velocity or relative length of the closed portion, suggesting more similar spectral slopes. The dc (unmodulated) flow did not differ significantly between females and males. Possible implications of the results for female and male voice quality are discussed. [Work supported by NIH.]