A note on voice timing and the evolution of connected speech

Abstract

Voice is a dominant component of everyday speech in all languages. The possibility is examined that its use may have evolved so that its timing in connected speech is ideal from the point of view of information theory—with voicing taking up 50% of the total speaking time. Initial measurements have been made of voice timing proportions using Laryngograph® (EGG) signals as the basis of timing analyses. The results of these analyses for data from two groups of speakers are reported: single native speakers of each of 8 different languages; and 56 speakers of British English. The average 51% and 52% voice timing proportions that were found closely approximate the ideal of 50%. Implications of this finding for voice evolution are briefly discussed.

Key words::

• Connected speech
• EGG
• electrolaryngograph
• evolution
• ideal timing
• laryngograph
• larynx
• voice

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

This work would not have been feasible without the critical input and the help of Evelyn Abberton and the support of staff and data from students at RADA, LAMDA, expert anechoic recordings by Steven Nevard at UCL, and both hardware and software from Xinghui Hu (Laryngograph.com). Critical comments from David Howard and Volker Dellwo have improved its presentation and content. It would not have appeared without the incentive coming from the BVA (British Voice Association) meeting of 9 May 2009 with a scientific programme organized by Evelyn Abberton, David Howard, and Julian McGlashan.

Declaration of interest: The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.