Acoustic analysis of vowels following glossectomy

Abstract

This study examined the acoustic characteristics of vowels produced by speakers with partial glossectomy. Acoustic variables investigated included first formant (F1) frequency, second formant (F2) frequency, F1 range, F2 range and vowel space area. Data from the speakers with partial glossectomy were compared with age- and gender-matched controls. Results indicated no significant group difference in the mean F1 values and ranges. The speakers with partial glossectomy exhibited significantly lower mean F2 values for the vowel /i/, and restricted F2 ranges, when compared with the control speakers. These data suggest a limited range of lingual movement along the anterior-posterior dimension for vowel production. The significantly smaller vowel space areas for the speakers with glossectomy supported the hypothesis of vowel formant centralization. Two acoustic measures, vowel space area and F2 range, had a positive correlation with vowel intelligibility scores. F2 range could serve as a sensitive correlate of vowel intelligibility for speakers with partial glossectomy.