Anthropological Unfoldings of the Human Voice: The Formation of Humanity Through Voice.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to describe six stages in which the voice plays a central role in the cultural and anthropological formation of humankind. These stages are referred to in this study as the Stages of Liberation of the Human Voice.

Methods: Using a bibliographic approach, the history of the human voice is examined as a phenomenon rather than as an object of study within a specific field such as medicine or the arts.

Results: The study first introduces four earlier stages, termed the Stages of Human Voice Imprisonment (SHVI). These stages encompass various historical events that have shaped human culture and, in some way, have directly or indirectly influenced vocal production-whether in theoretical, practical, or both forms. However, these stages should not be viewed as negative developments in the evolution of voice studies, but rather as necessary processes. Following this, the six Stages of Liberation of the Human Voice (SHVL) are presented. These stages represent the emancipation from implicit or explicit pre established premises concerning the phenomenon of voice and its various manifestations-such as speech, singing, poetry, ventriloquism, and vocal therapy. This liberation occurs in relation to constraints imposed by societal norms, the available knowledge and technology of a given historical period, prevailing beliefs about vocal production and its applications, and, in some cases, the inherent organic nature of the voice itself.

Final considerations: Finally, the study concludes with a discussion on the significance of both the SHVI and the (SHVL) in contemporary vocal sciences, particularly in addressing the fundamental question: What is voice?