Abstract
The intelligibility of the front vowels (/i/, /l/,/ε/, and /æ/) was investigated as sung in four different ways: (1) operatic, (2) in CVC context, (3) with a raised larynx, and (4) with both raised larynx and in CVC context. All syllables were sung by a trained soprano at F4, A4 C♯5, F5, A5, and C♯6. Ten subjects listened and identified randomized sets of ten tokens of each vowel per condition (method of articulation) at each pitch. Results showed that, from C♯5 (554.4 Hz) to F5 (698.5 Hz), the intelligibility of operatic vowels (condition 1) fell from 56% to 16%. The mean intelligibility of the vowels at the three highest pitch values (F5, A5, C♯6) was 10% for condition 1, 64% for condition 2, 62% for condition 3, and 83% for condition 4. Probable reasons for increased intelligibility across conditions will be discussed. The results indicate that the generally accepted notion that vowel sounds are largely unintelligible at higher pitch values pertains only to a restricted manner of production.
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