Describing voice quality: Transcription and instrumentation

Abstract

In this paper is discussed what areas of phonetic description of normal and disordered voice quality should be included on a Speech Language Pathology training course. The problems involved in using auditory impressionistic labelling are noted, and it is argued that descriptions based on articulatory settings avoid many of these. Further, they can be used as a means of transcribing voice quality, and the VoQS (Voice Quality Symbols) system of transcription is introduced. It is further argued that the theory and practice of instrumental phonetic analysis should also be included on the syllabus, and different approaches in this area are described.

Key Words:

• voice quality
• auditory perceptual evaluation
• phonetic transcription
• syllable