Modal Locking Between Vocal Fold Oscillations and Vocal Tract Acoustics

in Acta Acustica United with Acustica (2018), 104(2), 323-337

During voiced speech, vocal folds interact with the vocal tract acoustics. The resulting glottal source–resonator coupling has been observed using mathematical and physical models as well as in in vivo ... [more ▼]

During voiced speech, vocal folds interact with the vocal tract acoustics. The resulting glottal source–resonator coupling has been observed using mathematical and physical models as well as in in vivo phonation. We propose a computational time-domain model of the full speech apparatus that contains a feedback mechanism from the vocal tract acoustics to the vocal fold oscillations. It is based on numerical solution of ordinary and partial differential equations defined on vocal tract geometries that have been obtained by magnetic resonance imaging. The model is used to simulate rising and falling pitch glides of [α, i] in the fundamental frequency (fo ) interval [145 Hz, 315 Hz]. The interval contains the first vocal tract resonance fR 1 and the first formant F 1 of [i] as well as the fractions of the first resonance fR 1 /5, fR 1 /4, and fR 1 /3 of [α]. The glide simulations reveal a locking pattern in the fo trajectory approximately at fR 1 of [i]. The resonance fractions of [α] produce perturbations in the pressure signal at the lips but no locking. [less ▲]

Composition of passive boundary control systems

in Mathematical Control and Related Fields (2013), 3(1), 1-19

Interaction of vocal fold and vocal tract oscillations

in Proceedings of the 24th Nordic Seminar on Computational Mechanics (2011)

We study the mechanical feedback coupling between the human vocal folds and vocal tract (VT) by simulating fundamental frequency glides over the lowest VT resonance. In the classical source–filter theory ... [more ▼]

We study the mechanical feedback coupling between the human vocal folds and vocal tract (VT) by simulating fundamental frequency glides over the lowest VT resonance. In the classical source–filter theory of speech production, the vocal folds produce a signal which is filtered by the resonator, vocal tract without any feedback. We have developed a computational model of the vocal folds and the VT that also includes a counter pressure from the VT to the vocal folds. This coupling gives rise to new computational observations (such as modal locking) that can be established experimentally. [less ▲]