Friday, October 07, 2016
Right the first time
Modern electrolarynxes are famously monotonous. No tone or level controls. There's no reason why the device couldn't include both, operated by fingers or by grip strength; but clearly it doesn't.
The FIRST artificial larynx, developed by Bell Labs in 1929, had a natural tone control. It was basically a little saxophone held against the tracheostomy, with output directed into the mouth. [p 12 in the PDF]
Pushing harder with diaphragm raised the pitch, and users learned to control this variable easily.
What did it sound like? A 1935 episode of Ripley included an example, starting at 21:30 in this MP3. It doesn't sound entirely normal, but it's 80% more natural and unobtrusive than the modern version. Besides the tone variation, consonants are properly formed because actual vibrating air is passing over the articulators. The modern electrolarynx doesn't move air through the mouth so there's no way to form a stop or fricative.
= = = = =
Wildly irrelevant and gross sidenote.... India has taken over the Ripley idea and expanded it to infinity. The Limca Book of Records includes all sorts of 'strange' and 'unbelievable' 'achievements'. This 'achievement' is the precise converse of Bell's larynx.
Pushing harder with diaphragm raised the pitch, and users learned to control this variable easily.
What did it sound like? A 1935 episode of Ripley included an example, starting at 21:30 in this MP3. It doesn't sound entirely normal, but it's 80% more natural and unobtrusive than the modern version. Besides the tone variation, consonants are properly formed because actual vibrating air is passing over the articulators. The modern electrolarynx doesn't move air through the mouth so there's no way to form a stop or fricative.
= = = = =
Wildly irrelevant and gross sidenote.... India has taken over the Ripley idea and expanded it to infinity. The Limca Book of Records includes all sorts of 'strange' and 'unbelievable' 'achievements'. This 'achievement' is the precise converse of Bell's larynx.
Labels: Patient things
¶ 10:15 AM
