$F_2$ Formant Frequency Characteristics of the Aging Male and Female Speakers

한국어 모음에서 연령증가에 따른 제2음형대의 변화양상

  • 김찬우 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 차흥억 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 장일환 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 김선태 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 오승철 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 석윤식 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-두경부외과학교실) ;
  • 이영숙 (가천의과대학부속길병원 이비인후-음성언어치료실)
  • Published : 1999.11.01

Abstract

Background and Objectives : Conditions such as muscle atrophy, stretching of strap muscles, and continued craniofacial growth factors have been cited as contributing to the changes observed in the vocal tract structure and function in elderly speakers. The purpose of the present study is to compare F$_1$ and F$_2$ frequency levels in elderly and young adult male and female speakers producing a series of vowels ranging from high-front to low-back placement. Material and Methods : The subjects were two groups of young adults(10 males, 10 females, mean age 21 years old range 19-24 years) and two groups of elderly speakers(10 males, 10 females, mean age 67 years : range 60-84 years). Each subject participated in speech pathologist to be a speaker of unimpared standard Korean. The headphone was positioned 2 cm from the speakers lips. Each speaker sustained the five vowels for 5 s. Formant frequency measures were obtained from an analysis of linear predictive coding in CSL model 4300B(Kay co). Results : Repeated measure AVOVA procedures were completed on the $F_1$ and $F_2$ data for the male and female speakers. $F_2$ formant frequency levels were proven to be significantly lower fir elderly speakers. Conclusions : We presume $F_2$ vocal cavity(from the point of tongue constriction to lip) lengthening in elderly speakers. The research designed to observe dynamic speech production more directly will be needed.

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