scholarly journals Radiographic analysis of vocal tract length and its relation to overall body size in two canid species

2013 ◽  
Vol 291 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Plotsky ◽  
D. Rendall ◽  
T. Riede ◽  
K. Chase
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Radiographic Analysis ◽  
Tract Length ◽  
Canid Species

Vocal tract length and acoustics of vocalization in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

1999 ◽  
Vol 202 (20) ◽  
pp. 2859-2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Riede ◽  
T. Fitch
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Canis Familiaris ◽  
Physical Nature ◽  
The Body ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
German Shepherd ◽  
Tract Length ◽  
Yorkshire Terrier

The physical nature of the vocal tract results in the production of formants during vocalisation. In some animals (including humans), receivers can derive information (such as body size) about sender characteristics on the basis of formant characteristics. Domestication and selective breeding have resulted in a high variability in head size and shape in the dog (Canis familiaris), suggesting that there might be large differences in the vocal tract length, which could cause formant behaviour to affect interbreed communication. Lateral radiographs were made of dogs from several breeds ranging in size from a Yorkshire terrier (2.5 kg) to a German shepherd (50 kg) and were used to measure vocal tract length. In addition, we recorded an acoustic signal (growling) from some dogs. Significant correlations were found between vocal tract length, body mass and formant dispersion, suggesting that formant dispersion can deliver information about the body size of the vocalizer. Because of the low correlation between vocal tract length and the first formant, we predict a non-uniform vocal tract shape.

scholarly journals Static and dynamic formant scaling conveys body size and aggression

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Anikin ◽  
Katarzyna Pisanski ◽  
David Reby
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Dynamic Scaling ◽  
Human Speech ◽  
Tract Length ◽  
Original Length ◽  
Resonance Frequencies ◽  
Nonverbal Vocalizations

When producing intimidating aggressive vocalizations, humans and other animals often extend their vocal tracts to lower their voice resonance frequencies (formants) and thus sound big. Is acoustic size exaggeration more effective when the vocal tract is extended before, or during, the vocalization, and how do listeners interpret within-call changes in apparent vocal tract length? We compared perceptual effects of static and dynamic formant scaling in aggressive human speech and nonverbal vocalizations. Acoustic manipulations corresponded to elongating or shortening the vocal tract either around (Experiment 1) or from (Experiment 2) its resting position. Gradual formant scaling that preserved average frequencies conveyed the impression of smaller size and greater aggression, regardless of the direction of change. Vocal tract shortening from the original length conveyed smaller size and less aggression, whereas vocal tract elongation conveyed larger size and more aggression, and these effects were stronger for static than for dynamic scaling. Listeners familiarized with the speaker's natural voice were less often ‘fooled’ by formant manipulations when judging speaker size, but paid more attention to formants when judging aggressive intent. Thus, within-call vocal tract scaling conveys emotion, but a better way to sound large and intimidating is to keep the vocal tract consistently extended.

Correlation between vocal tract length, body height, formant frequencies, and pitch frequency for the five Japanese vowels uttered by fifteen male speakers

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroaki Hatano ◽  
Tatsuya Kitamura ◽  
Hironori Takemoto ◽  
Parham Mokhtari ◽  
Kiyoshi Honda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Tract Length ◽  
Formant Frequencies ◽  
Pitch Frequency

Unattended speech processing: Effect of vocal-tract length

2007 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. EL90-EL95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Rivenez ◽  
Christopher J. Darwin ◽  
Léonore Bourgeon ◽  
Anne Guillaume
Keyword(s):  
Speech Processing ◽  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Tract Length ◽  
Processing Effect
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