Globe Valve as an Analog to the Speech Phonation Mechanism
Dealing with the phonation mechanism involves various physiological activities. During speech, i.e., exhalation, pressure is built up and released at the larynx, different volumes of air flow through the glottis, and the resistance of the glottis is changed continuously. Different papers discuss the relations among pressure difference, volume flow, and resistance. The activities concerned are rather involved. However, dealing with an instantaneous condition, what relations are expected, having in mind the influence of pitch and intensity as additional parameters? The GLOBE VALVE as an analog is a relatively simple device, the characteristics of which can easily be followed. It will be shown that intensity will increase with increasing pressure difference, and resistance while the flow is kept constant. This condition will represent low pitch. At high pitch, on the other hand, intensity will increase with growing pressure difference or volume velocity while the resistance is kept constant. The analog is meant mainly as a control technique to facilitate easier understanding of the complex existing conditions.