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Articulatory Fo perturbations and auditory feedback
S Ternström1, J Sundberg, A Colldén
1Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
Journal of Speech and Hearing Research
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Singers singing different vowels showed pitch variations, especially without auditory feedback. Vowels like "i" and "y" had higher fundamental frequency (Fo), indicating singers may not fully compensate for pitch changes.
Area of Science:
- Vocal performance science
- Acoustic phonetics
- Auditory feedback
Background:
- Singers require precise fundamental frequency (Fo) control.
- Vowel production in speech is known to affect pitch.
- It is unclear if singers compensate for vowel-induced pitch changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if singers compensate for pitch changes during vowel transitions.
- To evaluate the impact of auditory feedback on pitch stability during vowel changes.
Main Methods:
- Experienced choir singers performed sustained tones with mid-tone vowel changes.
- Fundamental frequency (Fo) was measured during normal and noise-masked auditory feedback conditions.
- Fo contours were analyzed for pitch variations related to vowel changes.
Main Results:
- Vowels "i" and "y" were associated with higher Fo compared to other vowels.
- Pitch irregularities in Fo contours were greater without auditory feedback.
- Fo instability, measured by standard deviation, increased when auditory feedback was masked.
Conclusions:
- Singers exhibit vowel-dependent pitch variations, similar to speech production.
- Auditory feedback plays a role in maintaining pitch stability during vowel transitions.
- Singers may not fully compensate for vowel-induced pitch shifts, particularly when auditory feedback is compromised.