The Impact of Languages and Cultural Backgrounds on Voice Quality Analyses

Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study was to verify the influence of different cultural backgrounds and languages on the perception of voice quality. Another aim was to evaluate the correlation between clinical auditory-perceptual judgments with acoustic measurements, such as the acoustic voice quality index (AVQI) and the acoustic breathiness index (ABI), i.e., their effect on the concurrent validity. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Brazilian and European participants rated 2 culturally and linguistically different datasets (i.e., 150 Brazilian Portuguese and 218 German voice sample sets), with each dataset containing concatenated voice samples of continuous speech and sustained phonation. The raters evaluated the vocal quality in terms of the overall voice quality and breathiness. Intra- and interrater reliabilities were also tested. The psychometric qualities of the AVQI and the ABI (concurrent validity and diagnostic accuracy) were analyzed, considering the perceptual ratings of Brazilian and European participants for each dataset. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Rater reliability decreased for nonnative participants when evaluating the nonnative dataset. Brazilian raters perceived the German voices as more severe, whereas German raters considered the overall voice quality of Brazilian voices as less severe than native raters. The concurrent validity of the AVQI and the ABI, i.e., the agreement with the auditory-perceptual evaluations, was high irrespectively of the group of participants. The diagnostic accuracy, which refers to the ability to identify a deviated voice, was higher, considering the perceptual evaluations of native listeners. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Brazilian raters classified voice quality as more deviated, and the Brazilian voice samples were measured to be less severe (a possible language characteristic). Further studies are necessary to verify whether there was a task or sample consequence or if adjustments to the AVQI and ABI equations are required for Brazilian Portuguese.

The cepstral spectral index of dysphonia, the acoustic voice quality index and the acoustic breathiness index as novel multiparametric indices for acoustic assessment of voice quality

“…2). Its threshold varies between AVQI versions [18,19] and languages/cultural backgrounds [20] Age has minimal-to-no influence on the AVQI score (especially for younger adults), and sex has none [21,22]. Acceptable scores have been found for AVQI on voice assessment within the dysphonia classification of voice disorders (normal versus organic and functional voice disorders) [23] and a moderate to high correlation with self-perceived, questionnaire-based voice handicap of voiceimpaired patients has been found [24,25].…”

“…2). Its threshold varies between AVQI versions [18,19] and languages/cultural backgrounds [20]. It has high clinical utility and good results have been documented for diagnostic accuracy, concurrent validity and responsiveness to detect voice changes over time after different voice treatments (Y. Maryn, C. Batthyany, B. Barsties v. Latoszek, unpublished data).…”

The Impact of Foreign Language Accent on Expert Listeners' Auditory‐Perceptual Evaluations of Dysphonia

“…Research on the effect of foreign language accent on auditory‐perceptual evaluations has focused on cross‐ language differences (e.g., an English speaker evaluating the voice of someone speaking Cantonese 14 ) rather than cross‐ accent differences. These studies found cross‐language differences in ratings of both global percepts of voice quality (e.g., overall severity of dysphonia) and individual percepts (e.g., strain) 14–16 . However, they do not address the question of whether accent differences within a language shared by speaker and listener would similarly affect auditory‐perceptual outcomes.…”

“…These studies found crosslanguage differences in ratings of both global percepts of voice quality (e.g., overall severity of dysphonia) and individual percepts (e.g., strain). [14][15][16] However, they do not address the question of whether accent differences within a language shared by speaker and listener would similarly affect auditory-perceptual outcomes.…”

Pareto-Optimized AVQI Assessment of Dysphonia: A Clinical Trial Using Various Smartphones

“…Voice quality metrics have been found to be useful and efficient in the analysis of a variety of very different spoken languages. The purpose of the [54] study was to confirm the impact of different cultural origins and languages (Brazil Portuguese and European Portuguese) on the perception of voice quality. Another goal was to evaluate the relationship between clinical auditory perception assessments and acoustic measures such as AVQI and ABI, as well as their influence on concurrent validity.…”