The supraglottal constriction in Tibetan chants

Abstract

The phonation of Tibetan chants was examined using electroglottographic analysis. The supraglottal constriction, which was considered to generate their peculiar phonation qualities, was examined by a comparison with the vocal fold adduction. The results suggest that the frequency of the ventricular fold oscillation was the same as F0, and the closing peak of the ventricular fold adduction occurred approximately 171 degree after the vocal fold adduction. As the ventricular fold adduction immediately followed the glottal release, it generated the glottal pulse with double peaks in the corresponding glottal airflow. Low OQegg value was observed because the ventricular fold adduction, which occurred during the glottal release, lowered its value.