The Influence of Mandarin Pronunciation on Bel Canto Singing: A Study on the Challenges Faced by Chinese Singers in Adapting to Western Vocal Techniques.

Abstract

Introduction: Due to its tonal and syllabic structures, Chinese speakers may encounter unique difficulties when learning native Western operatic techniques. These challenges are particularly evident in balancing pitch control, subglottic pressure, and vowel production. The present study examines how native language influences vocal performance, using the Italian art song Caro mio ben as a test piece for singers from different language backgrounds.

Methods: A total of 16 sopranos performed the Italian art song Caro mio ben, eight Native Chinese singers (C), and eight Non-Native Chinese singers (NC). Using the pYIN algorithm in Librosa, fundamental frequency (F0) was continuously extracted for each singer. Additionally, formant values (F1, F2) of selected sustained vowels were manually measured using Praat. Pitch accuracy was quantified through absolute pitch deviation (Hz and cents), while vowel articulation was assessed via vowel space distribution. Group comparisons were also performed using the Mann-Whitney U test due to the small sample size.

Results: The two groups had similar average pitch accuracy overall, but group C showed greater pitch consistency across different notes. Meanwhile, the F1/F2 values of the group NC singers varied more, suggesting that they had different vowel articulation strategies. These differences are speculated to stem from the underlying speech motor patterns of native singers, which shape vowel articulation in singing.

Discussion: Although both groups were able to achieve comparable pitch accuracy, the influence of native speech habits was still evident in articulation patterns and pitch stability. These findings highlight the role of speech motor memory in shaping operatic vocal performance. This study contributes to our understanding of vocal techniques across languages and may provide training strategies for cross-language singers.