phonation (lecture 5)

Question 1

What do the cricothyroid muscles do?

Answer 1

Vocal fold lengtheners that pull the thyroid cartilage down and forward on its hinge

Question 2

Recap anatomy of the larynx

Question 3

True vocal cords

Answer 3

Enable us to produce sound (phonation)

Question 4

False vocal cords

Answer 4

Part of the vocal articulation during glottal stops and pressed phonation

Question 5

Describe the vocal folds

Answer 5

Connected to the thyroid cartilage and arytenoid cartilage. Each fold comprised of a vocal ligament, a vocalis muscle, a covering mucosal membrane

Question 6

Position of vocal folds for voiced and voiceless sounds

Answer 6

Breathing- wide apart
Voiceless sounds- apart (abducted)
Voiced sounds- tensed/closed (adduction) causing vibration
Glottal stop- firm closure

Question 7

Mechanics of vocal fold vibration: Bernoulli effect

Question 8

Types of phonation: whisper

Answer 8

Whisper sound quality is produced through turbulences generated by the friction of the air in and above the larynx with vocal folds not vibrating

Symbol: n̥ (voiceless)

Question 9

Types of phonation: breathy

Answer 9

Vocal fold vibration is inefficient. Air flows through the vocal folds at a high rate. The vibrations frequency is just below the value of the modal voice

Symbol: b̤

Question 10

Types of phonation: creaky

Answer 10

The resulting low tension and heavy vibrating mass are responsible for the slower and irregular vibration. Both
subglottal pressure also the glottal airflow are lowered compared to modal phonation.

Symbol: b̰

Question 11

What is Voice Onset Time (VOT)

Answer 11

The duration of the period of time between the release of the stop and the
beginning of vocal fold vibration

Question 12

How is VOT affected by aspiration?

Answer 12

In English ‘park’ → [pʰɑːk] → delay in the start of vibration → aspirated →
VOT = 30-120ms

Whereas, in English ‘spark’ there is no puff of air following the release of /p/ →
unaspirated → VOT = 0-25ms (unaspirated= shorter VOT)

In French ‘balle’ voicing starts before the release of the stop → fully voiced
→ negative VOT

Question 13

What type of
a sound is /p/
in the word
‘sport’?

Answer 13

Voiceless unaspirated

Question 14

What type of
a sound is /p/
in the word
‘depart’?

Answer 14

Voiceless aspirated

Question 15

Which type of sounds have negative VOT?

Answer 15

Voiced plosives