Formant frequency characteristics of elderly speakers in contextual speech

The present study measured F1 and F2 formant frequency levels of elderly and young male and female speakers producing the /i/, /ae/, [symbol: see text], /u/, and /a/ vowels in two carrier phrases. Results of a series of ANOVAs showed significant interactions of speaker age x vowel for both F1 and F2 formant frequencies for the male and female speakers. Results suggested that while elderly male speakers exhibit significant alterations in vowel production during contextual speech, elderly female speakers generally maintain formant frequency integrity or appropriate articulatory posturing during contextual vowel productions.