Vocal Loading - Effect of Speaking Environment

Effect of Speaking Environment

Several studies in vocal loading show that the speaking environment does have a significant impact on vocal loading. Still, the exact details are debated. Most scientists agree on the effect of the following environmental properties:

  • air humidity - dry air increases stress experienced in the vocal folds
  • hydration - dehydration increases effects of stress inflicted on the vocal folds
  • background noise - people tend to speak louder when background noise is present, even when it isn't necessary. Increasing speaking volume increases stress inflicted on the vocal folds
  • pitch - the "normal" speaking style has close to optimal pitch. Using a higher or lower pitch than normal will also increase stress in the speech organs.

In addition, smoking and other types of air pollution might have a negative effect on voice production organs.

Read more about this topic:  Vocal Loading

Famous quotes containing the words effect of, effect, speaking and/or environment:

    “The courage of a great many men, and the virtue of a great many women, are the effect of vanity, shame, and especially a suitable temperament.”
    —François, Duc De La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680)

    “I would define the poetic effect as the capacity that a text displays for continuing to generate different readings, without ever being completely consumed.”
    —Umberto Eco (b. 1932)

    “People in places many of us never heard of, whose names we can’t pronounce or even spell, are speaking up for themselves. They speak in languages we once classified as “exotic” but whose mastery is now essential for our diplomats and businessmen. But what they say is very much the same the world over. They want a decent standard of living. They want human dignity and a voice in their own futures. They want their children to grow up strong and healthy and free.”
    —Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)

    “If the Revolution has the right to destroy bridges and art monuments whenever necessary, it will stop still less from laying its hand on any tendency in art which, no matter how great its achievement in form, threatens to disintegrate the revolutionary environment or to arouse the internal forces of the Revolution, that is, the proletariat, the peasantry and the intelligentsia, to a hostile opposition to one another. Our standard is, clearly, political, imperative and intolerant.”
    —Leon Trotsky (1879–1940)