The Voice and Speech Science Research Laboratory is designed to conduct research both at the Master's and Ph.D. levels in the areas of voice and speech science. Current and future research include:

• spasmodic dysphonia
• acoustic and physiology of singing
• acoustics of cultural diversity
• normative data - vocal physiology
• experimental phonetics - duration modeling

Currently, the laboratory is working on three projects. The first project consists of a series of psychoacoustic studies designed to develop a quantitative model of classical singing voice classification. At this time, this research is examining the relevant perceptual and acoustic parameters of vocal timbre in singers and the relationship of these parameters to classical singing voice classification. The second project examines the aerodynamic and acoustic characteristics of speakers of English as a second language whose first language is Spanish. The third project is a series of studies attempting to develop a quantitative model of vowel duration in normal speakers. Further studies will examine how this model differs in populations such as English as a second language speakers or hearing impaired speakers.

Equipment

The Voice and Speech Science Research Laboratory is equipped with a large sound booth for recording speakers and professional singers.

The laboratory boasts equipment and software capable of performing a variety of research tasks: a Glottal Enterprises system for air flow analysis, subglottal air pressure measurement, and 2-channel electroglottograph and inverse filtering via C-Speech.Signal analysis software available include the Computerized Speech Laboratory and the Multi-Dimensional Voice Profile from Kay Elemetrics, C-Speech, CSRE, Cool Edit, and a variety of programs used to produce real-time spectrograms and Fast Fourier Analysis.

The laboratory has available several methods of signal synthesis: signal generation hardware and software from Tucker-Davis Technologies, a Klatt synthesizer as  implemented in CSRE, and a singing voice synthesizer built using Aladdin. Perceptual experiments are designed and conducted using a variety of software and hardware combinations.

The Voice and Speech Science Research Laboratory also is equipped with a Kay Elemetrics stroboscopy system that is used to visualize the vocal folds for both voice physiology research and clinical diagnostics.

Contact Us

Department Audiology & Speech Pathology
578 South Stadium Hall, UT
Knoxville, TN 37996-0740
Directions
Phone: (865) 974-5019
Fax: (865) 974-1539
Email: clark@utk.edu