Analysis of emotional voice using electroglottogram-based temporal measures of vocal fold opening

Abstract

Descriptions of emotional voice type have typically been provided in terms of fundamental frequency (f0), intensity and duration. Further features, such as measures of laryngeal characteristics, may help to improve recognition of emotional colouring in speech, and, expressiveness in speech synthesis. The present contribution examines three temporal measures of vocal fold opening - as indicated by the time of decreasing contact of the vocal folds estimated from the electroglottogram signal. This initial investigation, using a single female speaker, analyses the sustained vowel [a:], produced when simulating the emotional states anger, joy, neutral, sad and tender. The results indicate discrimination of emotional voice type using two of the measures of vocal fold opening duration. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.