Voice Type Research Articles

Utterance-Final Voice Quality in American English and Mexican Spanish Bilinguals

We investigate utterance-final voice quality in bilinguals of English and Spanish, two languages which differ in the type of non-modal voice usually encountered at ends of utterances: American English often has phrase-final creak, whereas in Mexican Spanish, phrase-final voiced sounds are breathy or even devoiced. Twenty-one bilinguals from the San Diego-Tijuana border region were recorded (with electroglottography and audio) reading passages in English and Spanish. Ends of utterances were coded for their visual voice quality as “modal” (having no aspiration noise or voicing irregularity), “breathy” (having aspiration noise), “creaky” (having voicing irregularity), or “breathy-creaky” (having both aspiration noise and voicing irregularity). In utterance-final position, speakers showed more frequent use of both modal and creaky voice when speaking in English, and more frequent use of breathy and breathy-creaky voice when speaking in Spanish. We find no role of language dominance on the rates of these four voice qualities. The electroglottographic and acoustic analyses show that all voice qualities, even utterance-final creak, are produced with increased glottal spreading; the combination of distinct noise measures and amplitude of voicing can distinguish breathy, creaky, and breathy-creaky voice qualities from one another, and from modal voice.

Examining the Effects of Communication Features of Educational Robots on Students’ Cognitive Load, Attitudes, and Learning Performance

Educational robots represent a unique form of teacher presence. Exploring how the communication features of robot instructors affect student learning experience could contribute to the advancement of educational robots. This study examined the impact of speech rate, voice type, and emotional tone of robots on students’ cognitive load, attitudes toward robot-assisted teaching, and learning performance. We recruited 477 Chinese primary school students assigned to either the speech rate, voice type, or emotional tone experiment. The results indicate that speech rate significantly influenced students’ cognitive load, with the medium speed condition resulting in higher germane load compared to both fast and slow speed conditions. Moreover, students had a lower preference for adult male voices over adult female, boy, or girl voices. However, voice type did not significantly impact attitudes toward robot-assisted teaching or learning outcomes. Emotional tone did not affect students’ cognitive load, attitudes, or learning performance. These findings provide valuable insights for instructors and designers when configuring the communication features of educational robots in classroom environments. Additionally, students generally prioritized the intelligence of the robot over its communication features, and they did not perceive the teaching content as difficult in all experiments. This study has methodological and practical significance.

Diatesis Pasif Persona Pertama Tunggal dalam Tindak Tutur Lokusi Menjelaskan oleh Warga Sumberejo, Ambulu, Jember

As one of grammatical semantics topics, the passive voice of singular first person is used to show the relationship between singular first person (me) and action through the form of passive verbs in a sentence that contain grammatical meaning. The formulation of this research problem is what are the semantic constructions of the passive voice of singular first person in locutionary speech acts explaining based on the strategy in Sumberejo, Ambulu, Jember? This qualitative descriptive research is included in communication ethnographic research. Data was collected through listening and speech methods. Data that has been successfully collected is then presented using categorical, descriptive, and distributional methods. The theories used are Chomsky's generative transformation theory (1965) and Searle's speech act theory (1979). Based on this study, a total of 6 types of passive voice of singular first person in locutionary speech acts explaining in Sumberejo Village, Ambulu District, Jember Regency by dividing the types of passive voice of singular first person based on the form of suffixes and the nature of passive verbs with the type of locutionary speech act explaining based on the strategy. The types of locutionary speech acts explain based on their 5 strategies, then the types are crossed with 5 types of passive voice, singular first person, based on the form of suffixes and the nature of passive verbs

The influence of listener experience, measurement scale and speech task on the reliability of auditory-perceptual evaluation of vocal quality.

To assess the influence of the listener experience, measurement scales and the type of speech task on the auditory-perceptual evaluation of the overall severity (OS) of voice deviation and the predominant type of voice (rough, breathy or strain). 22 listeners, divided into four groups participated in the study: speech-language pathologist specialized in voice (SLP-V), SLP non specialized in voice (SLP-NV), graduate students with auditory-perceptual analysis training (GS-T), and graduate students without auditory-perceptual analysis training (GS-U). The subjects rated the OS of voice deviation and the predominant type of voice of 44 voices by visual analog scale (VAS) and the numerical scale (score "G" from GRBAS), corresponding to six speech tasks such as sustained vowel /a/ and /ɛ/, sentences, number counting, running speech, and all five previous tasks together. Sentences obtained the best interrater reliability in each group, using both VAS and GRBAS. SLP-NV group demonstrated the best interrater reliability in OS judgment in different speech tasks using VAS or GRBAS. Sustained vowel (/a/ and /ɛ/) and running speech obtained the best interrater reliability among the groups of listeners in judging the predominant vocal quality. GS-T group got the best result of interrater reliability in judging the predominant vocal quality. The time of experience in the auditory-perceptual judgment of the voice, the type of training to which they were submitted, and the type of speech task influence the reliability of the auditory-perceptual evaluation of vocal quality.

Tenor timbre images in the Giacomo Puccini’s operas: the experience of systematisation

The relevance of the article. An essential requirement for a musician-performer of any specialty is a deep understanding of the stylistics of the works performed, based on an analysis of the artistic and figurative foundations of the musical language. For opera singers, an important factor of professional level is knowledge of the basics of opera drama, the style of the era, possession of appropriate means of vocal expressiveness. Addressing the chosen topic determines the relevance and scientific novelty of the issues of this article, in which arias for tenor in the operas of Giacomo Puccini are considered systematically for the first time, in the context of the evolution of the composer's work. The main purpose of the article was to determine the criteria and implement the systematization of tenor arias in Giacomo Puccini's operas through the prism of their dramatic role in the focus of imagery, genre-stylistic and form-creating features, for further typology of the role of "Puccini's voice" — the tenor-spinto. The research methodology is based on the methods of complex-historical, typological, structural-functional and comparative analysis, which allows us to understand the individual approach of Giacomo Puccini to the creation of his "own musical theater", the dramaturgy of the image of an operatic character, and to determine the criteria for the systematization of operatic arias of the tenor role.
 Results and conclusions. The tenor timbre corresponds as much as possible to Puccini's "vision" of a theatrical character, so almost every opera has a main character with this type of voice. The tenor-spinto (lyrical-dramatic tenor) attracts the composer's special attention, which testifies to the composer's clear imagination of a certain timbre-image as a carrier of artistic and meaningful meaning. Aria, as a fragment of an opera that focuses the attention of the listener on the image of the hero and the voice of the performer, in the history of opera-drama has always created a dilemma between the need for continuous action and its stopping in solo episodes of the performers. Puccini's ability to combine thorough musical development with fixation on dramatically important moments is a special feature of his author's vision. The article proposes a systematization of tenor arias in Puccini's operas according to their place in the action of the play. Two large groups are distinguished: musical portraits of the hero and arias of spiritual elevation (the culminating episode of the character's development, often the climax of the opera). The criteria for the systematization of tenor arias are defined: artistic content (differentiation according to the emotional and figurative criterion); compositional and structural features (identification of common and individual features of the construction of musical forms); the predominant type of means of vocal expressiveness (features of Puchchin's melodism). This approach allows the performer to better understand the principles of Puccini's thinking as a playwright. A deep understanding of the stylistic principles of the composer's work, the stylistics of the author's writing, gives the singer the opportunity to create his own performance interpretation, which evokes a response from the audience and becomes a real artistic asset. Further research in the proposed scientific field will contribute to the expansion of ideas about the author's theater of Giacomo Puccini, will help to better understand the principles of Puccini's thinking as a playwright and the degree of his innovation.

Early detection model of Parkinson's Disease using Random Forest Method on voice frequency data

Parkinson's disease is the most common nervous system disease that affects all ethnicities, genders, and ages, with a higher prevalence in the elderly and men. Developing countries tend to have higher cases of Parkinson's. The prevalence of death due to Parkinson's in Indonesia reaches the fifth highest cases in Asia and 12th in the world. This neurodegenerative disease affects a person's ability to control movement. Currently, the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is only based on observation of motor symptoms. Therefore, early detection of the disease cannot be done. His paper proposes an efficient way to detect Parkinson's disease symptoms by comparing the fundamental frequencies of patients' voices using the random forest method. Random forest is a Machine Learning method that applies the ensemble concept, which aims to improve the performance of the classification by combining several decision trees as a basis. Random forests have shown superior algorithm performance in numerous health studies. In this study, the dataset consisted of 20 patients with Parkinson's and 20 normal patients. Data for each patient was taken from 26 types of voice records, and thus, the total data was 1,040 observations. The obtained data is prepared by filtering and rescaling. Then, the data is split and modelled using the Random Forest Method. The random forest model obtained accuracy results of 72.50%, precision (normal) of 72.28%, precision (Parkinson's) of 72.73%, sensitivity (normal) of 73.00%, sensitivity (Parkinson's) of 72.00% and AUC is 80.70%. The built random forest model is quite good at Parkinson's disease detection.

Leader Member Exchange and Creative Idea Endorsement: The Role of Supportive and Challenging Voice

This study seeks to investigate why speaking out is not viewed positively in certain instances, but, at times, doing so results in both management support for the pitched proposals and improved interpersonal correlations for individuals doing so. Data was collected from two sources: employees and their supervisors of a telecommunication services organization in Indonesia. The data collected from 367 subordinates and 98 supervisors was then analyzed for simple regression and mediation with Mplus. We found that managerial response to employees’ creativity depends on the type of voice exhibited by the employees (challenging vs. supportive). We found that for employees who show their concerns with a challenging form of voice, managers are less likely to establish quality relationships (LMX) and endorse their ideas. However, when managers find employees engaged in supportive forms of voice, they will likely establish quality relationships (LMX) with them and endorse their ideas. Further, LMX mediated these relationships, but in different ways—that is, a challenging voice may be detrimental to the development of quality relationships, but managers may endorse those creative ideas; however, a supportive voice may be helpful in developing quality relationships, but it may not help in the endorsement of their creative ideas. This study contributes to the research on voice behavior by highlighting the significance of managers' assessments of reasons attributed to employees' voices.

Voice mediality in the dramatic text of Lesya Ukrainka

Based on the theory of mediative nature of writing the article analyzes the dramatization of voices in Lesya Ukrainka’s dramatic poem Cassandra (1907). The analysis of the text revealed that the author uses voices to create unique characters’ portraits, she skillfully introduces voice gestures, plays with voice masks. Different types of voices have been outlined in Lesya Ukrainka’s text and characterized in the article: the author’s voice, voice of the text, voice of silence, prophetic voice, cry voice, singing voice. Considering the ideas expressed by the researchers in the fi eld of the theory of writing and voice mediality, it has been pointed out that Lesya Ukrainka uses voices not just as a medium but also, she focuses on their physicality, emotionality, gesture nature, and performativity that plays a significant role for representing a tragic cognition in the poem.

Ratik Basa Ritual Tulak Bala Di Nagari Singgalang X Koto Kabupaten Tanah Datar

The research entitled Ratik Basa as a Tulak Bala Ritual in Nagari Singgalang, X Koto District, Tanah Datar Regency, aims to describe the series of implementation of "Ratik Basa in the Tulak Bala ritual and the views of the people who adhere to the Syattariah sect in Nagari Singgalang, X Koto District, Tanah Datar Regency" . Ratik Basa is a worship service that is integrated into religious traditions in the form of reciting dhikr in various contexts in the lives of the people of Nagari Singgalang. The research uses qualitative methods, field data collection techniques, literature study, observation, interviews and documentation using ritual theory, religious theory and perception theory. The results of the research show that the implementation of the Ratik Basa tradition is sung using a monophonic vocal technique, namely sung in one type of voice. For the people who adhere to the Syattariah sect in Nagari Singgalang, X Koto District, Tanah Datar Regency, Ratik Basa as a Tulak Bala Ritual ceremony is very essential. Because it is closely related to people's lives, especially the threat to the safety of nagari children in various forms of disaster, including natural disasters, dangerous disease attacks, famine, and others. Ratik Basa as a Tulak Bala Ritual is very important for people's lives because apart from being able to avoid all disasters, it has a positive value as an identity for Nagari Singgalang, and as a ritual means to foster ties of brotherhood between groups of adherents of the Syattariah sect and society in general.

Effect of Clinical Expertise on Efficacy of Vocal Function Exercises in Individuals With Typical Voice.

To determine the effect of clinical expertise on efficacy of Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) as measured by change in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained. The hypothesis was that clinical expertise would result in greater increases in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained. Randomized controlled trial. A convenience sample of 19 individuals with typical voice was recruited in a university academic clinic setting. All participants completed baseline assessment and 17 completed all study procedures. Participants were randomized to receive VFEs from an expert voice clinician with more than 40years' experience (expert group (EG)) or from a master's student in Communication Sciences and Disorders trained in VFEs (novice group (NG)). The primary outcome measure was change in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained during VFE tasks 1 and 4. Mean change scores for maximum phonation time were 27.71 (P=0.001) and 25.31 (P=0.003) for EG and NG, respectively. Both groups improved significantly on the primary outcome measure, but the difference between groups was not statistically significant (P=0.759). A Hedges'-g effect size of -0.14 [-1.10, 0.81] was obtained comparing EG and NG groups, indicating a small negative effect of limited clinical expertise on VFE outcomes in individuals with typical voice. Speech-language pathologists with varied levels of expertise are capable of efficaciously administering VFEs in individuals with typical voice.

Psychological Contracts and Employee Voice: Does Breach Matter?

Empirical evidence shows that the type of psychological contract and psychological contract breach affect employees’ work behaviours. One of these behaviours is employee voice, which is a key to organisational dynamics. This research aims to determine empirically the ways in which different types of psychological contract are linked to different types of employee voice, and the ways in which psychological contract breaches affect these relationships. The paucity of literature on the relationship between all three variables necessitated this research. The research targeted South African employees working in medium to large organisations with a staff component larger than 60. In a cross-sectional survey, the respondents were asked to answer a questionnaire on psychological contracts, psychological contract breach and employee voice. Correlation and regression analyses were used to test the relationships and the moderation effect of psychological contract breach on the psychological contract–employee voice links. A total of 620 respondents returned completed questionnaires, which showed acceptable psychometric properties. Relational psychological contracts correlated with promotive dimensions of employee voice, while transactional psychological contracts and psychological contract breach correlated with prohibitive dimensions of employee voice. The psychological contract–employee voice relationship was moderated by psychological contract breach only in a transactional psychological contract environment, and only for the prohibitive employee voice dimension. Psychological contracts and psychological contract breach, as well as the interaction between them, influence employee voice; with hindsight, this occurs in explainable ways. The results contribute to the understanding of the complex relationship between these variables and provide fertile ground for the formulation of targeted hypotheses. Practical recommendations are included.

Assessment of professional singers using laryngeal, respiratory, and airflow measurements

Purpose In the pedagogy of classical vocal singing, it can be difficult to determine the human voice fach, especially for the voice of aspiring vocalists. Hence, an objective metric-based system for the determination of the human voice is needed. In the present study, we investigated the anthropological and aerodynamic parameters for 60 professional singers with a professionally confirmed singing range. Methods Amongst the 60 included professional singers, there were ten participants each for sopranos, mezzo-sopranos, altos (female vocal fach), and tenors, baritones, basses (male vocal fach). Airflow measurements were recorded using spirometry whilst anthropological measurements were taken using CT scans. Appropriate statistical analyses were done using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis H test with post-hoc tests and Bonferroni correction. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Soprano singers, who have the highest pitch, were found to be the shortest and least heavy, whilst basses, who have the lowest pitch, were found to be tallest and heaviest amongst the study participants. Furthermore, sopranos had the smallest lung volumes while the basses had the largest lung volumes (raw spirometry measures). However, when normalized ratios were considered, no differences were observed. Finally, laryngeal size showed sexual dimorphism due to developmental changes. Conclusions A mix of anthropological and aerodynamic measurements may be useful to assist singers and vocal pedagogues to assess and determine voice types before the beginning of their vocal studies.

The role of the copula 是 si7 in the construal of focus structure in early Southern Min

ABSTRACT: The paper explores the role of the copula 是 si7 in the interpretation of the focus structure in early Southern Min playscripts. I examine the configuration of 是 si7 with respect to a range of functional/lexical categories such as kinds of adverbs, types of modals, voice (featuring causativity and passitivity), aspect, and negation as well as verb and noun phrases. I also put forward tree structures showing how focus vis-à-vis topic in cleft and pseudo-cleft clauses with 是 si7 as the pivot are derived. In a nutshell, the syntactic position of 是 si7 is versatile and yet constrained. There is an asymmetry of the distribution of subject and object focusing with respect to the position of the copula 是 si7 . I posit with Rizzi (2013) that the focus feature in the FocP triggers merging the focus constituent to the head Foc in FocP in CP. Apart from bearing the assertive force in the clause typing, the copula 是 si7 plays a supporting role of scoping over the focus constituent. I capture the syntactic behavior of the copula 是 si7 by construing it as an indispensable pivot in the derivation of focus structure. o put forward tree structures showing how focus vis 摘要: 本文探讨早期闽南戏文中系词"是" 在焦点结构中所扮演的角色。从和各类状语、情态词、语式(表被动或致使)、体貌、否定和动词、名词组成的相对位置可以确定"是"的结构特性。文中呈现分裂句及准分裂句中焦点相对于话题的树形图，其中"是"为轴心，约言之，"是"的句法位置多元而有限制。以系词"是"的位置为参照，可以看出主语焦点和宾语焦点在结构分布上有不对称的现象。以 Rizzi (2013)为依据本文假设焦点词组中的焦点征性触发焦点成分并入 CP 中的焦点中心语中，除了表示句式的论断语势外系词"是"还发挥辅助焦点成分的作用。总之，本文主张系词"是"是焦点结构中不可或缺的轴心，如此可以捕捉到"是"的句法行为。

Relationships Between Laryngoscopic Analysis Metrics of Supraglottic Compression and Vocal Effort in Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Supraglottic compression is thought to underlie vocal effort in patients with primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD). However, the relationship between supraglottic compression and vocal effort in this clinical population remains unclear. Gold standard laryngoscopic assessment metrics for supraglottic compression are also lacking. The goals of this study were to identify metrics proposed in the literature that could distinguish patients diagnosed with pMTD from typical voice users and determine their relationships to the vocal effort. Flexible laryngeal endoscopy was performed on 50 participants (25 pMTD, 25 controls). The presence of supraglottic compression was characterized using a categorical (nominal) scale and severity was quantified on ordinal and continuous scales. The three laryngoscopic metrics were correlated with self-perceived ratings of vocal effort on a 100mm visual analog scale. Inter-rater reliability was strongest for the continuous scale (P's<0.0001) compared to categorical (P's<0.001) and ordinal (P's<0.001) scales. The presence of different supraglottic compression patterns varied in both groups, and there were no significant group differences on categorical (P's>0.05) scales. Mediolateral (M-L) supraglottic compression was significantly greater in the pMTD group (P<0.0001), and anteroposterior(A-P) compression was significantly greater in the control group (P=0.001) using continuous scales. There were no significant relationships between any of the three laryngoscopic metric types and vocal effort ratings (P's>0.05), except for a significantly positive relationship between anterior-posterior compression on the ordinal scale and vocal effort in the control group (P=0.047). Continuous scales are reliable and valid for distinguishing individuals with pMTD from those without voice disorders, especially occupational voice users. M-L supraglottic compression may be a better indicator of pMTD than A-P compression. However, the poor correlation between supraglottic compression and vocal effort suggests that one may not influence the other. Future studies should focus on other mechanisms underlying vocal effort in patients with pMTD.

Leyla Gencer Şan Yarışması Üzerine Sistematik Bir Değerlendirme

Several prestigious classical music competitions are organized in the national and international fields. These competitions, organized in the field such as performance and composition, motivate many young artists and allow them to achieve significant successes. The Leyla Gencer Voice Competition is an international and worldwide-known voice competition, which is the oldest and most important competition held in Turkey in the opera genre. Leyla Gencer, known as La Diva Turca and entitled as State Artist by the Turkish Republic, is one of our world-renowned artists, and with her pioneering character of music, she has made significant contributions to the promotion of the art of opera to our country and the announcement of Turkish opera singers to the world. Leyla Gencer Voice Competition has been organized with different frequencies starting from 1995 until 2018. This competition has been also held in the years after her death and it has maintained its prestige until today. From the past to the present, numerous great performers started their careers with prestigious music competitions such as Leyla Gencer Voice Competition. They achieved important career positions with their success of the competitions and now they are worldwide known artists. In this study, information about the life of Leyla Gencer, who made great contributions to the development of Turkish Opera art, was given; and the findings of the voice contest organized in her name were tabulated and interpreted by using document analysis methodology. The findings were created by systematical analysis of the information on the official website of the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition and the one in the archive of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. Data regarding terms and conditions of the competition, audition processes, winners, awards, jury members for the preliminary auditions and finals, winners by country, Turkish award winners, number of awards received by Turkish award winners, distribution of award winners by voice type, distribution of award winners by gender, organizing institutions and gala concerts were evaluated and presented by classifying them according to years. As a result, the importance of the increase in prestigious competitions in our country, the increase in the motivation of young soloists, the creation of an archive of the competitions, and most importantly the establishment of a national federation of music competitions were emphasized.

Pediatric Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis

Purpose: The aim of this case study was to provide a review of a pediatric patient diagnosed with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Method: The case history, voice samples, laryngeal examinations, and diagnostic probes were reviewed in a 10-year-old girl with the chief complaint of persistent dysphonia, characterized by use of both a breathy and a typical voice. Perceptual ratings were completed using both Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice and Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, and Strain scales. Cepstral peak prominence was determined and compared for the same file segment using both Praat and Analysis of Dysphonia in Speech and Voice analysis programs. Treatment probes during the initial preoperative visit are described. Results: The patient was able to compensate for short phonation tasks, but longer conversations were judged to have increased dysphonia and increased vocal fatigue. Because noted compensation was unable to be stabilized or sustained, both a reinnervation of the ansa cervicalis to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and voice therapy techniques were recommended as part of the multidisciplinary team plan. Conclusion: Pediatric patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis may present with complex phonatory behaviors. This case study paired with supplemental acoustic and videostroboscopy files provides an opportunity to practice both an auditory-perceptual and acoustic assessment and to rate a laryngeal examination. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24163926

Harnessing Machine Learning in Vocal Arts Medicine: A Random Forest Application for "Fach" Classification in Opera.

Vocal arts medicine provides care and prevention strategies for professional voice disorders in performing artists. The issue of correct "Fach" determination depending on the presence of a lyric or dramatic voice structure is of crucial importance for opera singers, as chronic overuse often leads to vocal fold damage. To avoid phonomicrosurgery or prevent a premature career end, our aim is to offer singers an improved, objective fach counseling using digital sound analyses and machine learning procedures. For this purpose, a large database of 2004 sound samples from professional opera singers was compiled. Building on this dataset, we employed a classic ensemble learning method, namely the Random Forest algorithm, to construct an efficient fach classifier. This model was trained to learn from features embedded within the sound samples, subsequently enabling voice classification as either lyric or dramatic. As a result, the developed system can decide with an accuracy of about 80% in most examined voice types whether a sound sample has a lyric or dramatic character. To advance diagnostic tools and health in vocal arts medicine and singing voice pedagogy, further machine learning methods will be applied to find the best and most efficient classification method based on artificial intelligence approaches.

Learning from accented virtual humans: Can quality of voice and globalization overcome accent familiarity?

The current study’s data is from a select portion of a larger study, which investigated the impact accents have on learning outcomes and perceptions of the instructor. A 2 x 2 between-subjects factorial design was conducted on the type of voice (human, synthetic) and the accent of the voice (English, Russian), and their impacts when being spoken by a virtual human. Previous research has consistently shown that instructor accents can impact learning outcomes, perceptions of the instructor, and perceptions of the learning materials. However, the current study’s results conflict with these past findings, with no effects found for the accent condition and accent familiarity having no significant impact. This study’s focus will be on the accent familiarity findings, which will demonstrate the need for further research on the impact accents have on learning, perceptions, and how increasing globalization and quality of voice may influence these outcomes.

Comparison Between Custom Smartphone Acoustic Processing Algorithms and Praat in Healthy and Disordered Voices

The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between temporal and spectral-based acoustic measures derived using Praat and custom smartphone algorithms across patients with a wide range of vocal pathologies. Voice samples were collected from 56 adults (11 vocally healthy, 45 dysphonic, aged 18-80years) performing three speech tasks: (a) sustained vowel, (b) maximum phonation, and (c) the second and third sentences of the Rainbow passage. Data were analyzed to extract mean fundamental frequency (fo), maximum phonation time (MPT), and cepstral peak prominence (CPP) using Praat and our custom smartphone algorithms. Linear regression models were calculated with and without outliers to determine relationships. Statistically significant relationships were found between the smartphone algorithms and Praat for all three measures (r2 =0.68-0.95, with outliers; r2 =0.80-0.98, without outliers). An offset between CPP measures was found where Praat values were consistently lower than those computed by the smartphone app. Outlying data were identified and described, and findings indicated that speakers with high levels of clinician-perceived dysphonia resulted in smartphone algorithm errors. These results suggest that the proposed algorithms can provide measurements comparable to clinically derived values. However, clinicians should take caution when analyzing severely dysphonic voices as the current algorithms show reduced accuracy for measures of mean fo and MPT for these voice types.

Reporting on the New Citizen: Towards Constructive Forms of Reporting on Immigrants

Research indicates that media reporting, particularly on immigrants, depicts them in a stereotypical image. This image is tied to the type of information and voices used in the stories which contribute to the poor quality of news reporting. A key issue driving these negative portrayals is the manner in which journalists refer to and describe certain groups, and whose perspectives and voices they include in their reporting. This practice within journalism has attracted significant critique. This study explores the potential for adopting a more constructive approach to reporting on immigrants. Utilizing constructive journalism and peace journalism principles as a theoretical framework, and Critical Discourse Analysis as a methodological tool, the article examines how immigrants were covered in the local Swedish newspaper, Barometern, between 2017 and 2021. Results suggest that integrating constructive strategies in stories about immigrants facilitates a more balanced representation.