How do alaryngeal speakers convey glottal stops?
Title | How do alaryngeal speakers convey glottal stops? |
Publication Type | Presentation |
Year of Publication | 2006 |
Conference Name | Dag van de Fonetiek 2006 |
Authors | van Rossum, Maya |
Publisher | Nederlandse Vereniging voor Fonetische Wetenschappen |
Conference Location | Utrecht, The Netherlands |
Abstract | To convey glottal stops, laryngeal speakers control the degree of constriction at the larynx. Laryngectomy – usually necessitated by laryngeal cancer – involves surgical removal of the larynx. The new voice source (neo-glottis) is formed by the mucosa and muscles situated at the entrance to the esophagus (foodpipe). Control over the neo-glottis in these tracheo-esophageal (TE) speakers, might influence attempts to convey glottal stops accurately. This study investigated how TE speakers realize glottal stops in abutting words that end and begin with the same vowel. Acoustic analyses showed that TE speakers use different strategies, most notably the insertion of glides (/w/; /j/). Listeners rated the TE speakers’ attempts to convey ‘glottal’ stops less favourably than the control speakers’ glottal stops. The TE speakers’ acoustic realizations that deviated most from what would normally be expected, received the least favourable ratings. |