Coupling between the laryngeal and supralaryngeal systems

Abstract

The present study investigated the coupling between the laryngeal and supralaryngeal systems in speech production. The interrelationship between the two systems was examined by studying the possible interaction between tone production (laryngeal system) and articulation (supralaryngeal system). Sixty (30 male and 30 female) native Cantonese speakers participated in the study. The first and second formant frequencies (F1 and F2) associated with the four vowels /i, u, ?, ?/ produced at six Cantonese lexical tones (highlevel, high-rising, mid-level, low-falling, low-rising and low-level tones) were obtained. Results revealed that, regardless of vowels, significant articulatory changes were found when produced at different tones. However, the difference pattern across each vowel was not systematic. Gender difference was also noted; male and female speakers showed different patterns in articulatory changes. These findings revealed the coupling effect between the laryngeal and supra-laryngeal systems.