Voice Classification II: Extension of Sample and Language Independence

Abstract

Additional data have been obtained on the perceptual classification of voices by means of the voice classification by hierarchical clustering method [J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 40, 1282 (A) (1966)]. The voice sample has been extended to 100 male and 100 female voices. The method appears to yield stable results since the gross structure of the clustering remains invariant. The semantic differential data were also submitted to a multidimensional scaling analysis, parametric mapping, which provided an excellent three-dimensional fit. To investigate any dependence of the classification method on the speaker's language, 20 males whose native language was other than English were recorded in their native language and in English. The clustering analysis showed closely comparable results for the voices speaking either English or the foreign language, with 13 languages represented. This provides additional evidence that the ratings on the semantic differential represent the perception of the voice quality and are not dependent upon extraneous factors.