Voice Quality Analysis Using Electroglottography (EGG) for Japanese Language Education: Examples from Emotional and Attitudinal Speech

Abstract

This explanatory article presents experimental examples of voice quality analysis using Electroglottography. Emotional and attitudinal speech by Japanese native speakers and Chinese learners of L2 Japanese were recorded, and open quotient was extracted and compared. The results showed that vocal fold vibration patterns differed by the speaker’s native language, and Chinese native speakers tended to vocalize with tense vocal folds more often. The results also suggest that Chinese native speakers retain features of Chinese paralinguistic expression. Based on above results, we propose that EGG could be used to present voice quality information when devising instructional methods for Japanese language education.