Fundamental Frequency, Intensity, and Vowel Duration Characteristics Related to Perception of Cantonese Alaryngeal Speech

Fundamental frequency (F₀), F₀ contours, vowel duration, and intensity associated with Cantonese alaryngeal speech, and their relation to the perception of meaning were studied. Thirty adult male native Cantonese speakers participated in the study: 10 esophageal, 10 electrolaryngeal, and 10 laryngeal speakers. Results indicated that perceptually, listeners were able to identify what the Cantonese esophageal speakers were saying, particularly for words associated with high-level, low-falling and high-rising tonal contours. Acoustic analysis of the speech signals of the esophageal speakers indicated that intensity and durational data did not contribute to the perception of meaning. The F₀ contours appeared to be the acoustic cues associated with the signal that contributed most to the perception of meaning.