Relationships between voice variables and speech intelligibility in high level noise

Abstract : The investigation isolates those variables which seem to change intelligibility in military situations in which a talker must compete with the noise of planes, gunfire, and other battle confusion. Analyses were made of the voices of both good and poor speakers. The variables compared were intensity, speech time, voice quality, and pitch factors. Loudness was the most significant single factor that differentiated high and low intelligibility. Increased loudness improves intelligibility. Syllable and word duration affected intelligibility. A longer duration helps intelligibility. The other voice variables did not seem to be important. (Author)