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Voice quality is strongly linked to quality of life; those who suffer from voice disorders are adversely affected in their social, family, and professional relationships. An effort has been made to more fully understand the physics behind how the voice is created, specifically the fluid structure interactions that occur during vocal fold vibration. Many techniques have been developed and implemented to study both the motion of the vocal folds and the airflow that creates the motion. Until recently these techniques have sought to understand a highly three-dimensional phenomenon with 1D or 2D perspectives.This research focuses on the development and implementation of an experimental technique to obtain three-dimensional characterizations of vocal fold motion and fluid flow. Experiments were performed on excised human vocal fold models at the University Hospital Erlangen Medical School in Erlangen, Germany. A novel technique for tracking the motion of the vocal folds using multiple camera viewpoints and limited user interaction was developed. Four high-speed cameras (2000 fps) recorded an excised vocal fold model vibrating at 250 Hz. Based on the images from these four cameras a fully 3D reconstruction of the superior surface of the vocal folds was achieved. The 3D reconstruction of 70 consecutive time steps was assembled to characterize the motion of the vocal folds over eight cycles. The 3D reconstruction accurately modeled the observed behavior of vocal fold vibration with a clearly visible mucosal wave. The average reprojection error for this technique was on par with other contemporary techniques (~20 micrometers). A whole field, time resolved, three-dimensional reconstruction of the vocal fold fluid flow was obtained using synthetic aperture particle image velocimetry. Simultaneous 3D flow fields, subglottal pressure waves, and superior surface motion were presented for 2 consecutive cycles of oscillation. The vocal fold fluid flow and motion measurements correlated with behavior observed in previous three-dimensional studies. A higher resolution view of one full cycle of oscillation was compiled from 16 time resolved data sets via pressure data. The result was a full three-dimensional characterization of the evolution and disintegration of the glottal jet.

Glottalization, as significant irregularity of glottal pulsing, fulfils a number of linguistic functions and can occur in various contexts. This paper examines the rate of vowel-related glottalization of non-syllabic prepositions when native Russian speakers read Czech speech. In Czech, just like in other languages there is a relatively high frequency of glottalization. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that could influence it. The speakers produced a short read text which contained 59 potential neslabičné prepositions where glottalization could occur in standard pronunciation. The basic set of the perceptual analysis and statistical processing consisted of 582 items. The rate of glottalization in individual speakers ranged from 0 % to 90 % , where the average volume is regulary based at 49 %. Statistical significance of differences in the frequency of the analyzed groups created on the basis of monitored aspects were calculated using the chi-square test.

Dans la rééducation selon la Méthode de la paille, on utilise des constrictions du tractus vocal, en particulier une paille (2 à 5mm de diamètre). Le débit de sortie doit être soutenu et indépendant de la fréquence. Chez un sujet expert :- PSG, PIO et débit de sortie dépendent du diamètre de la paille- PSG augmente avec la fréquence- débit et PIO sont peu sensibles à la fréquence- la différence [PSG - PIO] (ΔP) est indépendante du diamètre de la paille- le ΔP est identique au seuil de pression phonatoire (SPP) - sur les constrictives (/z/, /ʁ/ et /ʒ/), le ΔP est au-dessus du SPP- dans les enchaînements [constrictive - voyelle], le débit reste constant et la pression sousglottique baisse modérémentSur une population de 36 adultes sains, la valeur la plus basse du SPP se trouve au fondamental usuel de la voix.Sur une population de 22 sujets, les SPP s'abaissent avec la pratique des exercices. Les examens en fibro- et radiovidéoscopie, pendant et après les exercices montrent que :- les cavités sus-glottiques sont dilatées pendant et après l'exercice- la constriction glottique augmente avec la résistance à la sortie- le plan glottique s'élève légèrement avec la fréquenceDix instrumentistes à vent ont été examinés en fibrovidéoscopie : il y a une adduction des plis vocaux pendant le jeu et une importante activité synergique de la glotte sur le jeu en détaché. Les perspectives dégagées par ce travail intéressent :- la clinique, dans l'exploration des troubles de la voix.- la rééducation et la pédagogie- la phonétique (étude des interactions pavillon - source) / The reeducation according to the Methode of the straw using constrictions of the vocal tract, in particular a straw (2 in 5mm of diameter). The release flow must be steady and independent from the frequency. At a subject expert in the method: - PSG, PIO and release flow) depend on the diameter of the straw- PSG increases with the frequency- flow and PIO seem little perceptible to the variations of frequency- the difference [PSG - PIO] (ΔP) is independent from the diameter of the straw- the ΔP value is identical to the SPP - on the constrictive (/z/, /ʁ/ et /ʒ/) the ΔP is over the SPP- in the sequences [constrictive - vowel], the flow remains constant and the subglottal pressure falls moderatelyOn a population of 36 healthy adults, the lowest value of the SPP being in fundamental usual of the voice. On a population of 22 subjects, the SPP fall with the practice of the exercises. The examines with fibro- and radiovideoscopia during and after the execution of the exercises show that: - the supraglottal cavities are dilated during and after the exercise- the glottal constriction increases with the release resistance- the glottal plan rise slightly with the frequencyTen wind instrumentalists were examined with fibrovideoscopia: there is a adduction of the vocal folds during the play and an important synergic activity of the glottis during the staccato play.The perspectives cleared by this work could interest:- the clinical exploration of the voice disorders- the voice rehabilitation and pedagogy- the phonetic (study of the interactions [ tract - glottal source])

This thesis explores, through a number of production andperception studies, the nature of the voice source signal andhow it varies in spoken communication. Research is alsopresented that deals with the techniques and methodologies foranalysing and synthesising the voice source. The main analytictechnique involves interactive inverse filtering for obtainingthe source signal, which is then parameterised to permit thequantification of source characteristics. The parameterisationis carried by means of model matching, using the four-parameterLF model of differentiated glottal flow. The first three analytic studies focus on segmental andsuprasegmental determinants of source variation. As part of theprosodic variation of utterances, focal stress shows for theglottal excitation an enhancement between the stressed voweland the surrounding consonants. At a segmental level, the voicesource characteristics of a vowel show potentially majordifferences as a function of the voiced/voiceless nature of anadjacent stop. Cross-language differences in the extent anddirectionality of the observed effects suggest differentunderlying control strategies in terms of the timing of thelaryngeal and supralaryngeal gestures, as well as in thelaryngeal tensions settings. Different classes of voicedconsonants also show differences in source characteristics:here the differences are likely to be passive consequences ofthe aerodynamic conditions that are inherent to the consonants.Two further analytic studies present voice source correlatesfor six different voice qualities as defined by Laver'sclassification system. Data from stressed and unstressedcontexts clearly show that the transformation from one voicequality to another does not simply involve global changes ofthe source parameters. As well as providing insights into theseaspects of speech production, the analytic studies providequantitative measures useful in technology applications,particularly in speech synthesis. The perceptual experiments use the LF source implementationin the KLSYN88 synthesiser to test some of the analytic resultsand to harness them to explore the paralinguistic dimension ofspeech communication. A study of the perceptual salience ofdifferent parameters associated with breathy voice indicatesthat the source spectral slope is critically important andthat, surprisingly, aspiration noise contributes relativelylittle. Further perceptual tests using stimuli with differentvoice qualities explore the mapping between voice quality andits paralinguistic function of expressing emotion, mood andattitude. The results of these studies highlight the crucialrole of voice quality in expressing affect as well as providingpointers to how it combines withf0for this purpose. The last section of the thesis focuses on the techniquesused for the analysis and synthesis of the source. Asemi-automatic method for inverse filtering is presented, whichis novel in that it optimises the inverse filter by exploitingthe knowledge that is typically used by the experimenter whencarrying out manual interactive inverse filtering. A furtherstudy looks at the properties of the modified LF model in theKLSYN88 synthesiser: it highlights how it differs from thestandard LF model and discusses the implications forsynthesising the glottal source signal from LF model data.Effective and robust source parameterisation for the analysisof voice quality is the topic of the final paper: theeffectiveness of global, amplitude-based, source parameters isexamined across speech tokens with large differences inf0. Additional amplitude-based parameters areproposed to enable a more detailed characterisation of theglottal pulse. <b>Keywords:</b>Voice source dynamics, glottal sourceparameters, source-filter interaction, voice quality,phonation, perception, affect, emotion, mood, attitude,paralinguistic, inverse filtering, knowledge-based, formantsynthesis, LF model, fundamental frequency,f0.

<p>This thesis explores, through a number of production andperception studies, the nature of the voice source signal andhow it varies in spoken communication. Research is alsopresented that deals with the techniques and methodologies foranalysing and synthesising the voice source. The main analytictechnique involves interactive inverse filtering for obtainingthe source signal, which is then parameterised to permit thequantification of source characteristics. The parameterisationis carried by means of model matching, using the four-parameterLF model of differentiated glottal flow.</p><p>The first three analytic studies focus on segmental andsuprasegmental determinants of source variation. As part of theprosodic variation of utterances, focal stress shows for theglottal excitation an enhancement between the stressed voweland the surrounding consonants. At a segmental level, the voicesource characteristics of a vowel show potentially majordifferences as a function of the voiced/voiceless nature of anadjacent stop. Cross-language differences in the extent anddirectionality of the observed effects suggest differentunderlying control strategies in terms of the timing of thelaryngeal and supralaryngeal gestures, as well as in thelaryngeal tensions settings. Different classes of voicedconsonants also show differences in source characteristics:here the differences are likely to be passive consequences ofthe aerodynamic conditions that are inherent to the consonants.Two further analytic studies present voice source correlatesfor six different voice qualities as defined by Laver'sclassification system. Data from stressed and unstressedcontexts clearly show that the transformation from one voicequality to another does not simply involve global changes ofthe source parameters. As well as providing insights into theseaspects of speech production, the analytic studies providequantitative measures useful in technology applications,particularly in speech synthesis.</p><p>The perceptual experiments use the LF source implementationin the KLSYN88 synthesiser to test some of the analytic resultsand to harness them to explore the paralinguistic dimension ofspeech communication. A study of the perceptual salience ofdifferent parameters associated with breathy voice indicatesthat the source spectral slope is critically important andthat, surprisingly, aspiration noise contributes relativelylittle. Further perceptual tests using stimuli with differentvoice qualities explore the mapping between voice quality andits paralinguistic function of expressing emotion, mood andattitude. The results of these studies highlight the crucialrole of voice quality in expressing affect as well as providingpointers to how it combines with<i>f</i>₀for this purpose.</p><p>The last section of the thesis focuses on the techniquesused for the analysis and synthesis of the source. Asemi-automatic method for inverse filtering is presented, whichis novel in that it optimises the inverse filter by exploitingthe knowledge that is typically used by the experimenter whencarrying out manual interactive inverse filtering. A furtherstudy looks at the properties of the modified LF model in theKLSYN88 synthesiser: it highlights how it differs from thestandard LF model and discusses the implications forsynthesising the glottal source signal from LF model data.Effective and robust source parameterisation for the analysisof voice quality is the topic of the final paper: theeffectiveness of global, amplitude-based, source parameters isexamined across speech tokens with large differences in<i>f</i>₀. Additional amplitude-based parameters areproposed to enable a more detailed characterisation of theglottal pulse.</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>Voice source dynamics, glottal sourceparameters, source-filter interaction, voice quality,phonation, perception, affect, emotion, mood, attitude,paralinguistic, inverse filtering, knowledge-based, formantsynthesis, LF model, fundamental frequency,<i>f</i>₀.</p>

This master thesis concerns with emotional states and gender recognition on the basis of speech signal analysis. We used various prosodic and cepstral features for the description of the speech signal. In the text we describe non-invasive methods for glottal pulses estimation. The described features of speech were implemented in MATLAB. For their classification we used the GMM classifier, which uses the Gaussian probability distribution for modeling a feature space. Furthermore, we constructed a system for recognition of emotional states of the speaker and a system for gender recognition from speech. We tested the success of created systems with several features on speech signal segments of various lengths and compared the results. In the last part we tested the influence of speaker and gender on the success of emotional states recognition.

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Předložená disertační práce se zabývá vývojem algoritmů pro detekci stresu z řečového signálu. Inovativnost této práce se vyznačuje dvěma typy analýzy řečového signálu, a to za použití samohláskových polygonů a analýzy hlasivkových pulsů. Obě tyto základní analýzy mohou sloužit k detekci stresu v řečovém signálu, což bylo dokázáno sérií provedených experimentů. Nejlepších výsledků bylo dosaženo pomocí tzv. Closing-To-Opening phase ratio příznaku v Top-To-Bottom kritériu v kombinaci s vhodným klasifikátorem. Detekce stresu založená na této analýze může být definována jako jazykově i fonémově nezávislá, což bylo rovněž dokázáno získanými výsledky, které dosahují v některých případech až 95% úspěšnosti. Všechny experimenty byly provedeny na vytvořené české databázi obsahující reálný stres, a některé experimenty byly také provedeny pro anglickou stresovou databázi SUSAS.

The challenges of measuring speech signals in the presence of a strong background noise cannot be easily addressed with traditional acoustic technology. A recent solution to the problem considers combining acoustic sensor measurements with real-time, non-acoustic detection of an aspect of the speech production process. While significant advancements have been made in that area using low-power radar-based techniques, drawbacks inherent to the operation of such sensors are yet to be surmounted. Therefore, one imperative scientific objective is to devise new, non-invasive non-acoustic sensor topologies that offer improvements regarding sensitivity, robustness, and acoustic bandwidth. This project investigates a novel design that directly senses the glottal flow waveform by measuring variations in the electromagnetic properties of neck tissues during voiced segments of speech. The approach is to explore two distinct sensor configurations, namely the“six-element" and the“parallel-plate" resonator. The research focuses on the modeling aspect of the biological load and the resonator prototypes using multi-transmission line (MTL) and finite element (FE) simulation tools. Finally, bench tests performed with both prototypes on phantom loads as well as human subjects are presented.