Acoustical and perceptual analysis of voice projection in Marathi speaking actors.

Context: Exploring the characteristics of actor's voice is been the interest of the researchers in last two decades. Research on professional voice users in India is mostly concentrated on singers, teachers, radio jockeys etc. A literature search indicates two areas where more research is needed. Primarily detailing the way of perceptual evaluation of actor's voice (speaking voice) and correlating it acoustic parameters. Research needs to be carried out to find out whether the actors are special as in the strategies they use to project their voices in Indian contexts. Aims: The primary aim of the following study is to analyze acoustic and perceptual parameters for voice projection in actors and non-actors at three loudness levels and secondary aim is to find out correlation between them. Subjects and Methods: A total of 18 actors and 18 non-actors within the age range of 19-60 years participated in the study. Their voices were digitally recorded and analyzed using LTAS (Dr. Speech, Real Analysis-Tiger Electronics, Version 5) on frequency-intensity parameters. Result and Discussion: The result showed that there is a significant difference between actors and non-actors at stage performance level (P < 0.01). Pattern of spectral slope was found sharply falling with higher energy concentration in actors at 3-4 kHz. Perceptual parameters correlated moderately only with average f0 at stage performance level. Conclusion: Actors are efficient in projecting their voice perceptually than non-actors which is in correlation with acoustic parameters at stage performance level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]