Study on the Changeability of Fundamental Frequency of Esophageal Speech and Artificial Larnxy

Abstract

In order to investgate the possibility of change in fundamental frequency of esophageal speech and artificial larynx, a series of listening tests and acoustic analyses were made on two-syllabled words uttered by laryngectomized patients. An additional study on the relation between the tension of rubber membrane of artificial larynx and the fundamental frequency was also performed.The results were as follows:1) Pitch accents were evidently perceived in both esophageal speech and the voice through artificial larynx.2) Acoustic analyses revealed that the main perceptive cue for pitch accent was the change in fundamental frequency.3) Speech through artificial larynx was superior to esophageal speech in terms of pitch accent.4) Rising pitch was easier to be pronounced than falling pitch in both esophageal speech and artificial larynx.5) For widening the frequency range of artificial larynx, it was more advantageous to set the rubber membrane comparatively lax.