Vocal tract modes based on multiple area function sets from one speaker

The purpose of this study was to derive vocal tract modes from a wider range of vowel area functions for a specific speaker than has been previously reported. Area functions from Story [(1996). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 100, 537-554] and Story [(2008). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 123, 327-335] were combined in a composite set from which modes were derived with principal component analysis. Along with scaling coefficients, these modes were used to generate a [F1, F2] formant space. In comparison to formant spaces similarly generated based on the two area function sets alone, the combined version provides a wider range of both F1 and F2 values. This new set of modes may be useful for inverse mapping of formant frequencies to area functions or for modeling of vocal tract shape changes.