Skip to main content
Log in

Acoustic and perceptual implications of the transsexual voice

  • Published:
Archives of Sexual Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two experiments are described concerning voice characteristics of male-to-female transsexuals. In the speech production experiment isolated words and longer utterances were realized in a male and female mode by subjects. Speech samples were analyzed as to a number of acoustic parameters and compared intraindividually. It appeared that, in spite of anatomical constraints, subjects were able to realize a number of vocal characteristics that are known to add to a feminine voice quality in the female speaking mode. In the second experiment, consisting of a perceptual task, male and female versions of some speech samples were presented pairwise to a panel of listeners who were able to identify the intended speaker sex mode. Perceptual results thus corroborate the acoustic findings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Addington, D. W. (1968). The relationship of selected vocal characteristics of personality perception.Speech Monogr. 35(4): 492–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anshen, F. (1969).Speech variation among Negroes in a small Southern community. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, New York University.

  • Aronovitch, C. D. (1976). The voice of personality: Stereotyped judgments and their relation to voice quality and sex of speaker.J. Soc. Psychol. 99: 207–220.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, R. O. (1983). Acoustic correlates of speaker sex identification: Implications for the transsexual voice.J. Sex Res. 19: 293–306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgerton, M. T. (1974). The surgical treatment of transsexuals.Clin. Plastic Surg. 1.

  • Fant, G. (1960).Acoustic Theory of Speech Production Mouton, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fant, G. (1968). Analysis and synthesis of speech processes. In Malmberg, B. (ed.),Manual of Phonetics North Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 173–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, J. L. (1958). Social influences on the choice of a linguistic variant.Word 14: 47–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günzburger, D. (1989). Voice adaptation by transsexuals.Clin. Linguist. Phonet. 3.2: 163–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günzburger, D. (1993). An acoustic analysis and some perceptual data concerning voice change in male-female transsexuals.Eur. J. Disorders of Communication 28.1: 13–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Günzburger, D., Bresser, A., and ter Keurs, M. (1987). Voice identification of prepubertal boys and girls by normally sighted and visually handicapped subjects.Lang. Speech 30: 47–57.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson, I. (1992). Analysis and synthesis of different voices with emphasis on female speech. Doctoral dissertation, University of Stockholm, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Key, M. R. (1975).Male/Female Language Scarecrow Press, Metuchen, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labov, W. (1966).The Social Stratification of English in New York City Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConnell-Ginet, S. (1975). Intonation in the social context: Language and sex. Paper presented at the Ninth International Congress in Sociology, Uppsala, Sweden.

  • McConnell-Ginet, S. (1983). Intonation in a man's world. In Thorne, B., Kramarae, C., and Henley, N. (eds.),Language, Gender and Society.

  • Meditch, A. (1975). The development of sex-specific speech patterns in young children.Anthropol. Linguist. 17(9): 421–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milroy, L. (1980).Language and Social Networks Basil Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohala, J. J. (1984). Ethological perspective on common cross-language utilization of F0 of voice.Phonetica 41: 1–16.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sachs, J., Lieberman, P., and Erickson, D. (1973). Anatomical and cultural determinants of male and female speech. In Shuy, R. W., and Fasold, R. W. (eds.),Language Attitudes: Current Trends and Prospects Georgetown University Press, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. N. (1985).Language, the Sexes and Society Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundberg, J. (1974). Articulatory interpretation of the “singing formant.”J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 55: 838–844.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sundberg, J. (1975). Formant technique in a professional female singer.Acustica 32: 89–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, D. (1990).You Just Don't Understand. Women and Men in Conversation Morrow, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terrango, L. (1966). Pitch and duration characteristics of the oral reading of males on a masculinity-femininity dimension.J. Speech Hearing Res. 9: 590–595.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tielen, M. T. J. (1992). Male and female speech. An experimental study of sex-related voice and pronunciation characteristics. Doctoral dissertation, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorne, B., and Henley, N. (eds.). (1975).Language and Sex Newbury House, Rowley, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorne, B., Kramarae, C., and Henley, B. (eds.). (1983).Language, Gender and Society Newbury House, Rowley, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfram, W. (1969).A Sociolinguistic Description of Detroit Negro Speech Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Günzburger, D. Acoustic and perceptual implications of the transsexual voice. Arch Sex Behav 24, 339–348 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541604

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541604

Key words

Navigation