the vocal source - final exam

Question 1

what is the source of sound for vowels & voiced consonants

Answer 1

vocal fold vibration in the larynx

Question 2

harmonics

Answer 2

integer multiples of the fundamental freq

Question 3

how to calculate harmonics from fund freq

Answer 3

multiple fun freq by number of harmonic

find fund freq by dividing harmonic’s freq by its number
300Hz / 3rd harmonic = 100Hz

Question 4

what is voice quality

Answer 4

characteristics of the voice

Question 5

breathiness

Answer 5

more open glottis

Question 6

creakiness

Answer 6

irregular vocal fold vibration

Question 7

quantal theory

Answer 7

languages want sounds in stable areas

Question 8

quantal areas

Answer 8

areas where changes in articulation don’t produce large acoustic changes

don’t have to be as precise

Question 9

what is the sound source for fricatives

Answer 9

turbulence

created by air passing through a narrow constriction in the vocal tract

creates a chaotic movement of air vs laminar

Question 10

source of stops

Answer 10

blocking vocal tract so no air can escape

building up pressure at the closure

opening the closure to release the airflow

releasing airflow causes sudden impulse/burst which is audible

Question 11

source for voiceless stops

Answer 11

during shutting stage: voicing from previous vowel or nothing

during closure: nothing

during release: pressure impulse + aspiration noise

Question 12

source for voiced stops

Answer 12

during shutting stage: voicing from previous vowel or nothing

during closure: voicing

during release: pressure impulse + aspiration noise + voicing

Question 13

harmonics in a power spectrum

Answer 13

fund freq is the first one (usually)

harmonics are all the integer multiples

Question 14

how to distinguish voiced & voiceless sounds in a spectrogram

Answer 14

voicing bar before sound

Question 15

fricative tube model

Answer 15

narrow constriction before front cavity

Question 16

stop tube model

Question 17

nasals tube model

Answer 17

backwards F shaped (pharynx branching into mouth (dead end) & then nose)

or T shaped:
mouth = open open
pharynx = open closed
side branch in between open closed

closed closed tube w/ a branch to nose

Question 18

where are vowels in a spectrogram

Answer 18

formants

dark horizontal bands of energy

the space between the formants

Question 19

fricatives in a spectrogram

Answer 19

looks like noise or static

different average freqs (higher = darker on the top)

very light white bands

Question 20

stops in a spectrogram

Answer 20

gap of silence before a burst

voiced has a small “voicing bar” in the gap

Question 21

channel turbulence

Answer 21

produced when airflow escapes from a narrow channel & hits outside air

Question 22

obstacle turbulence

Answer 22

produced when airflow hits an obstacle in its path (eg - teeth)

more turbulence which = more loudness

Question 23

sibilants

Answer 23

like s & sh

perpendicular obstacle (teeth)

louder

Question 24

parallel obstacles

Answer 24

produce less turbulence

not as loud

f & v –> airflow hits upper lip