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Method to Measure Tone of Axial and Proximal Muscle

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Published on: December 14, 2011

What is "Twang"?

Johan Sundberg¹, Margareta Thalén

¹Department of Speech Music Hearing, School of Computer Science and Communication, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden. pjohan@speech.kth.se

Journal of Voice : Official Journal of the Voice Foundation

|January 20, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Singing with a "twang" voice quality involves higher subglottal pressure and sound pressure level (SPL). Resonatory changes, not voice source differences, primarily contribute to the perception of "twanginess" and may benefit vocal hygiene.

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Area of Science:

Vocal acoustics
Speech science
Singing pedagogy

Background:

The acoustic and physiological characteristics of different voice qualities, such as "twang," are not fully understood.
Understanding vocal production mechanisms is crucial for effective singing and vocal health.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the acoustic and physiological differences between "twang" and neutral voice qualities.
To determine the primary acoustic features contributing to the perception of "twanginess."

Main Methods:

A professional vocal artist produced "twang" and neutral voice samples.
Subglottal pressure was measured during /pae/ syllables.
Acoustic analysis, including inverse filtering, examined voice source properties and formant frequencies.

Main Results:

"Twang" exhibited higher subglottal pressure and sound pressure level (SPL) compared to neutral voice.
Acoustic analysis revealed differences in closed quotient, pulse amplitude, fundamental frequency, and normalized amplitude.
Formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3, F5) differed significantly between the two voice qualities, with F1 and F2 higher and F3 and F5 lower in "twang."

Conclusions:

Formant frequency differences, indicative of resonance changes, were more critical for perceiving "twanginess" than voice source alterations.
"Twang" may represent a vocal strategy that optimizes resonance for vocal hygiene.