Principles of Voice Production - Study Guide Chapter 6

Midterm 2 (covers Chapters 5 - 8)
Study Guide for Chapter 6

Disclaimer: It is possible that this study guide may NOT cover 100% of the information for all test questions. If you know textbook information about the following subjects, you should be able to answer at least 95% of all questions on the test.

Chapter 6: The Source-Filter Theory of Vowels
A. Definitions

B. Basic Concepts

1. Define and explain how the vocal tract functions as a filter or filters and what type of filter(s) does it model.

2. Name three factors found in acoustic theory that affect or alter wave propagation and cause reflections.

3. What is the relationship between an abrupt change in area in a pipe or tube and the reflection coefficient?

4. The purpose of a wave reflection diagram is to determine what frequencies reinforce the natural echo patterns of a tube (resonance). What are the resonant frequencies of a tube that is closed or open at both ends? (Write down the general equations for each tube and do an easy example: tube length = 35 cm, sound velocity = 35.000 cm/sec)

5. How does energy loss due to energy radiated out the mouth or lost through the glottis into the lungs or due to vibration of the air column and tissue

6. How does the radiated power from a simple acoustic source relate to the frequency, or what happens to the radiated power of a sound if you raise the frequency one octave (double)?

7. How are vowels perceived and classified?

8. What are the three rules for modifying vowel formants?

9. Draw the F1-F2 vowel chart for the neutral vowel (schwa) and the three corner vowels (can you do this if you were alone on an island?)

10. What is the relationship between waveform (time domain) and spectrum (frequency domain)?

11. Explain figure 6.20.