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In speech science and phonetics, a formant is the broad spectral maximum that results from an acoustic resonance of the human vocal tract. In acoustics, a formant is usually defined as a broad peak, or local maximum, in the spectrum. For harmonic sounds, with this definition, the formant frequency is sometimes taken as that of the harmonic partial that is most augmented by a resonance. The difference between these two definitions resides in whether "formants" characterise the production mechanisms of a sound or the produced sound itself. In practice, the frequency of a spectral peak differs from the associated resonance frequency, except when, by luck, harmonics are aligned with the resonance frequency.
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal tract, including talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, shouting, or yelling. The human voice frequency is specifically a part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary sound source.
Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. Its most common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of study within linguistics, phonetics, and speech-language pathology, particularly in relation to the study of tonal languages and certain types of vocal disorders, although it has little practical application in terms of speech.
Belting is a specific technique of singing by which a singer carries their chest voice above their break or passaggio. Belting is sometimes described as "high chest voice", although if this is done incorrectly it can potentially be damaging for the voice. It is often described as a vocal register, although this is also technically incorrect; it is rather a descriptive term for the use of a register. Singers can use belting to convey heightened existential states.
Richard Miller was a professor of singing at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and the author of numerous books on singing technique and vocal pedagogy. He also sang recitals, oratorios, and numerous roles as a lyric tenor with major opera companies in Europe and America.
A hoarse voice, also known as dysphonia or hoarseness, is when the voice involuntarily sounds breathy, raspy, or strained, or is softer in volume or lower in pitch. A hoarse voice, can be associated with a feeling of unease or scratchiness in the throat. Hoarseness is often a symptom of problems in the vocal folds of the larynx. It may be caused by laryngitis, which in turn may be caused by an upper respiratory infection, a cold, or allergies. Cheering at sporting events, speaking loudly in noisy situations, talking for too long without resting one's voice, singing loudly, or speaking with a voice that's too high or too low can also cause temporary hoarseness. A number of other causes for losing one's voice exist, and treatment is generally by resting the voice and treating the underlying cause. If the cause is misuse or overuse of the voice, drinking plenty of water may alleviate the problems.
Throat singing refers to several vocal practices found in different cultures around the world. The most common feature of such vocal sounds is producing the sensation of more than one pitch at a time, i.e., the listener perceives two or more distinct musical notes when the singer is producing a single vocalization. Throat singing, therefore, consists of a wide range of singing techniques that originally belong to some particular cultures and seem to share some sounding characteristics that make them especially noticeable by other cultures and users of mainstream singing styles. Probably, the term originates from the translation of the Mongolian word Xhöömei, that literally means throat.
A voice type is a group of voices with similar vocal ranges, capable of singing in a similar tessitura, and with similar vocal transition points (passaggi). Voice classification is most strongly associated with European classical music, though it, and the terms it utilizes, are used in other styles of music as well.
Vocology is the science and practice of vocal habilitation, or vocal training and therapy. Its concerns include the nature of speech and language pathology, the defects of the vocal tract (laryngology), the remediation of speech therapy, and the voice training and voice pedagogy of song and speech for actors and public speakers.
A projection augmented model is an element sometimes employed in virtual reality systems. It consists of a physical three-dimensional model onto which a computer image is projected to create a realistic looking object. Importantly, the physical model is the same geometric shape as the object that the PA model depicts.
Richard Luchsinger (1900–1993) was a Swiss Doctor who made early contributions to the field of Speech Language Pathology, specifically in "phoniatry" or the study of voice. He was born in Switzerland and specialized in otorhinolaryngology. His most notable contribution to the field of voice was a textbook that he published with Dr. Gottfried E. Arnold. The textbook was originally published in German, however the second edition, published in 1965, was translated into English under the title: Voice-Speech-Language.
Voice therapy consists of techniques and procedures that target vocal parameters, such as vocal fold closure, pitch, volume, and quality. This therapy is provided by speech-language pathologists and is primarily used to aid in the management of voice disorders, or for altering the overall quality of voice, as in the case of transgender voice therapy. Vocal pedagogy is a related field to alter voice for the purpose of singing. Voice therapy may also serve to teach preventive measures such as vocal hygiene and other safe speaking or singing practices.
An electroglottographic wavegram is a tool for analyzing the voice source in speech and singing, based on electroglottographic (EGG) signals.
Jan Švec is a Czech voice scientist. He is the inventor of videokymography, a method for high-speed visualization of vocal-fold vibrations, which is being used for advanced diagnosis of voice disorders.
Auditory feedback (AF) is an aid used by humans to control speech production and singing by helping the individual verify whether the current production of speech or singing is in accordance with his acoustic-auditory intention. This process is possible through what is known as the auditory feedback loop, a three-part cycle that allows individuals to first speak, then listen to what they have said, and lastly, correct it when necessary. From the viewpoint of movement sciences and neurosciences, the acoustic-auditory speech signal can be interpreted as the result of movements of speech articulators. Auditory feedback can hence be inferred as a feedback mechanism controlling skilled actions in the same way that visual feedback controls limb movements.
Emil Fröschels was an Austrian specialist in speech and voice therapy. As a laryngologist and chief speech therapist, in 1924 he introduced the term logopedics into medical usage. He established the International Society of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, and was a co-founder, together with Karl Cornelius Rothe, of the Vienna School for Speech-Disturbed Children.
Timo Leino founded the Department of Speech Technique in the University of Tampere in 1974. He was the head of Department from 1974 to 2001. Leino pioneered speech analysis in Finland. He worked extensively as a versatile influencer who courageously and determinedly developed speech education in Finland.
Anne-Maria Laukkanen is a Finnish researcher (1990–) and a permanent full professor (2001–) of speech technique and vocology at the University of Tampere.
Intelligent Speech Analyser (ISA) is a speech and voice analyzer developed in Finland.
Mohamed Nasser Kotby, is an Egyptian professor Emeritus of Otorhinolarygology and Phoniatrics at Faculty of Medicine, Ain Sham University. He is considered the founder of the Phoniatrics and Logopedics in Egypt and the Middle East. Kotby published many papers in scholarly journals and textbooks. His works investigated different topics e.g. vocology, dysarthria, dysphasia and child language. He is a member of many professional societies, national, regional and international. He was elected as president of Collegium Medicorum Theatri [CoMeT], Pan African Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies [PAFOS], Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum [CORLAS], International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP), International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (IFOS). He is now President the Egyptian Association of Phoniatrics and Logopedics (ESPL). In addition to his scientific work, Kotby is a certified guide in Egyptology. He wrote a series of books exploring history of Egypt.
References
- Howard, D.M., and Welch, G.F. (1989). "Microcomputer-based singing ability assessment and development", Applied Acoustics, 27, (2), 89-102.
- Howard, D.M., and Welch, G.F. (1993). "Visual displays for the assessment of vocal pitch matching development", Applied Acoustics, 39, 235-252.
- Howard, D.M., Brereton, J., Welch, G.F., Himonides, E., DeCosta, M., Williams, J., and Howard, A.W. (2007). "Are Real-Time Displays of Benefit in the Singing Studio? An Exploratory Study", Journal of Voice, 21, (1), 20-34.
- Howard, D.M., and Angus, J.A.S. (1998). "A comparison between singing pitching strategies of 8 to 11 year olds and trained adult singers", Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology, 22, (4), 169-176.
- Welch, G.F., Howard, D.M., and Rush, C. (1989). "Real-time visual feedback in the development of vocal pitch accuracy in singing", Psychology of Music, 17, 146-157.