Phonetics and Speech Science

Voice is the production of a vibrating tone through the vibration of the vocal folds under pulmonary airflow. The glottis is the space between the vocal folds. Phonation is produced through the myoelastic aerodynamic theory, which takes into account the actions of muscles, tissue elasticity, and aerodynamic (airflow) principles. Fundamental frequency is the frequency of vibration of a talker’s vocal folds (as distinguished from other frequencies in speech). An individual’s “normal” fundamental frequency is called their modal frequency. Voice onset time (VOT) is the time (duration) between the release of a plosive and the start (onset) of voicing in the following segment. The vocal folds are complex anatomical structures involving superficial and deep layers; this structure influences the nature of vocal fold vibration and the mucosal wave. In order to explain and illustrate the complex vibration, the two-mass model and the cover--body model are used. Whisper and nasality are phenomena that are counted under the heading "voice" by some authors.