A Most Unnatural Act! Investigating some of the Questions Surrounding the Way in which We Speak and Sing

Condensed Matter lunchtime seminar

A Most Unnatural Act! Investigating some of the Questions Surrounding the Way in which We Speak and Sing

  • Event time: 1:00pm
  • Event date: 13th December 2010
  • Speaker: Adam Apostoli (Formerly School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
  • Location: Room 2511,

Event details

Voice is our primary means of expression. In combination with our face and hands, it signals who we are, what we want, and how we feel.(Titze, 1994). Even with the voice playing such a key role in our identity, and after hundreds of thousands of years of use of this seemingly most basic of instruments, we still do not possess a detailed understanding of exactly how it works. As well as providing an introduction to the field, this talk will consider the impact of two structures found a short distance above the vocal folds in the larynx on the jet of air emitted from the glottis. An understanding of the effect that these structures, termed the ventricular bands, have on the glottal jet may provide a useful insight into some voice pathologies. Using a model and Particle Image Velocimetry it has been possible to study the nature of the glottal jet during steady state oscillation of the vocal folds with downstream constrictions. A key advance on previous studies in this area is the ability to now observe the glottal jet from the point at which it emerges from the vocal folds. Results from flow field measurements will be presented for different constrictions, similar to the ventricular bands, placed downstream of the vocal folds.

About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars

This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..

Find out more about Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars.