Research field

Vocology

Tampere University

Speech is an important tool for human self-expression and social communication. Up to one third of today’s workforce occupy positions where speaking is an important part of their work.

The human voice is a carrier of natural speech and a powerful means of expression. The characteristics of speech and voice can be deliberately varied for the linguistic coding of messages and, for instance, to convey emotions and attitudes. These characteristics may also vary involuntarily, affecting our communication and listeners’ perceptions of us and our messages. Speech and voice are also powerful tools of artistic expression.

Speech technique and vocology (the science and practice of voice habilitation) is a subject where multidisciplinary scientific research meets a long tradition of practical voice and speech training. Research and instruction/training go seamlessly together. At Tampere University, the subject falls under the umbrella of Society and Health.

In Finland, academic training in speech technique and vocology is only offered at Tampere University. The establishment of the Speech and Voice Research Laboratory in 1968 marked the beginning of education in this field in Tampere.

We conduct research on speech, speaking and singing voice using acoustic, perceptual and physiological methods. Our research examines cultural variation in speech and voice, the effects and bases of voice training methods, and the development and prevention of voice disorders. Since 1968, we have been collecting a voice archive which enables comparisons between groups of voice users and between different decades.

Research on the cultural aspects of speech increases out understanding of interpersonal and intercultural communication. Studies on the effects of insufficient language skills and hearing impairment on the perception of voice and speech characteristics facilitate the development of teaching methods and communication aids.

Voice analysis can reveal how various types of voice use differ in terms of how they exploit the capacity of the vocal organ. In addition, the results shed light on the potential risks relating to excessive loading and the development of voice disorders.

Research on voice training methods seeks to identify the ideal methods for improving vocal function, expression and vocal endurance. This not only helps to improve communication and the occupational skills of future voice professionals but also prevents voice disorders.

Since 1968, the Speech and Voice Research Laboratory has investigated speech, speaking and singing voices from the perspectives of physiology, acoustics, perception, cultural variation, skills required in various occupations, individual and artistic expression, and the prevention of voice disorders. A large voice archive has been recorded in our own acoustically treated studio. The active collection of research and voice archives has resulted in a large reference database for the purposes of voice and speech training and therapy.

We have maintained active research collaboration with the Degree Programme in Theatre Arts at Tampere University since the 1960s. Our research results are promptly translated into practice to improve actor training.

We also test the applicability of various research methods for studying speech and voice.

Our research is experimental and carried out in multidisciplinary collaboration with national and international groups.

Examples of our publications

Laukkanen A-M, Rantala L. Relations between creaky voice and vocal symptoms of fatigue. (2020) Folia Phoniatr Logop (DOI:10.1159/000506901)

Laukkanen A-M, Waaramaa T. (2020) Suomalaisten naisopiskelijoiden luennan perustaajuuden muutos 1990-luvulta 2010-luvulle. [Change in Finnish female university students’ mean fundamental frequency in text reading from the 1990’s to 2010’s.] Julkaistaan Puhe ja kieli –lehdessä.

Aura M, Geneid A, Bjørkøy K, Rantanen M, Laukkanen A-M. (2020) A nasoendoscopic study of ‘head resonance’ and ‘imposto’ in classical singing. Accepted to be published in Journal of Voice.

Saldías M, · Guzman M,· Sandoval G, · Vergara C, · Lizana J, · Quezada C. Water Resistance Therapy as Vocal Warm-Up Method in Contemporary Commercial Music Singers. Folia Phoniatr Logop 2020;72:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1159/000494722

Saldías M, Guzman M, Miranda G, Laukkanen A-M, Stoney J, Alku P, Sundberg J. The vocal tract in loud twang-like singing while producing high and low pitches. Journal of Voice, Available online 15 April 2020 Journal of Voice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.02.005

Laukkanen A-M, Laine UK. Katsaus vuorovaikutukseen ääntöväylän ja äänilähteen välillä. [Overview on voice source – vocal tract interaction]. Puhe ja kieli, 40:1,x–xxx (2020)

Munier C, Brockmann-Bauser M, Laukkanen A-M, Ilomäki I, Kankare E, Geneid A. Relationship
between Laryngeal signs and symptoms, Acoustic measures, and Quality of Life in Finnish Primary and Kindergarten school teachers. Journal of Voice 2020 Volume 34, Issue 2, p163-304 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.12.006

Faham M, Laukkanen A-M, Ikävalko T, Rantala L, Geneid A, Holmqvist-Jämsén S, Ruusuvirta K, Pirilä S. Acoustic Voice Quality Index as a potential tool for voice screening. Journal of Voice in press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.08.017

Horáček J,Radolf V, Laukkanen A-M. Experimental and computational modeling of the effects of voice therapy using tubes. J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2019 Jul 15;62(7):2227-2244. DOI:10.1044/2019_JSLHR-S-17-0490

Kankare E, Barsties v. Latoszek B, Maryn Y, Asikainen M, Rorarius E, Vilpas S, Ilomäki I, Tyrmi J, Rantala L, Laukkanen A-M. The Acoustic Voice Quality Index Version 02.02 in the Finnish-Speaking Population. Logoped Phoniatr Vocol. 2019 Feb 5:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/14015439.2018.1556332

Waaramaa T, Lukkarila P, Järvinen K, Geneid A, Laukkanen A-M. (2019). Impressions of personality from intentional voice quality in Arabic-speaking and native Finnish-speaking listeners. Journal of Voice. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.09.003.

Hakanpää T, Waaramaa T, Laukkanen A-M. (2019). Comparing contemporary commercial and classical styles: Emotion expression in singing. Journal of Voice, 33(4):501-509. DOI: DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2019.10.002

Waaramaa T, Kukkonen T, Mykkänen S, Geneid A. (2018). Emotion identification by children using cochlear implants, relations to voice quality and musical interests. Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, 17;61 (4): 973-985. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_JSLHR-H-17-0054

Hämäläinen R, De Wever B, Waaramaa T, Laukkanen A-M, Lämsä J. (2018). It’s Not Only What You Say, But How You Say It: Investigating the Potential of Prosodic Analysis as a Method to Study Teacher’s Talk. Frontline Learning Research, 6 (3). DOI: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-201901211096

Huttunen K, Kosonen J, Waaramaa T, Laakso M-L. (2018). Tunne-etsivät -pelin vaikuttavuus lasten sosio-emotionaalisen kehityksen tukemisessa. Kelan tutkimusosaston julkaisusarja, Sosiaali- ja terveysturvan raportteja 8. Helsinki.

https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/233957/Raportteja8.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y

Aura M, Laukkanen A-M, Ojala J. Laulunopettajien yleisimmin käyttämät laulupedagogiset käsitteet. [The most frequently used song pedagogical concepts by Finnish singing teachers]. In Finnish. Ainedidaktiikka/{Subject Didactics. 2018, Vol 2 Nro 2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23988/ad.73222

Laukkanen A-M, Geneid A, Bula V, Radolf V, Horáček J, Ikävalko T,Kukkonen T, Kankare E, Tyrmi J. How much loading does water resistance voice therapy impose on the vocal folds? An experimental human study. J Voice. 2018 Nov 20.doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.10.011

Vasant Phadke K, Laukkanen A-M, Ilomäki I, Kankare E, Geneid A, Svec JG. Cepstral and perceptual investigations in female teachers with functionally healthy voice. Journal of Voice in press. Available online 19 October 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.09.010

Saldias M, Guzman M, Miranda G, Laukkanen A-M. A computerized tomography study of vocal tract setting in hyperfunctional dysphonia and in belting. Journal of Voice. 2019 Jul;33(4):412-419.

10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.02.001

Horáček J, Radolf V, Laukkanen A-M. Impact stress in water resistance voice therapy. A physical
modelling study. Journal of Voice 2018 in press. DOI: DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2018.01.025

Aura M, Geneid A, Bjørkøy K, Rantanen M, Laukkanen A-M. The nasal musculature as a control panel for singing - Why classical singers use a special facial expression? Journal of Voice 2018 in press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.12.016

Liu D, Kolehmainen V, Siltanen S, Laukkanen A-M, Seppänen A. Estimation of conductivity changes in a region of interest with electrical impedance tomography. Inverse Problems and Imaging 9(1), 2015; article number 10. DOI: 10.3934/ipi.2015.9.211

González Hautamäki R, Kinnunen T, Hautamäki V, Laukkanen A-M. Automatic versus human speaker verification: The case of voice mimicry. Speech Communication 2015, 72: 13-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.specom.2015.05.002

Waaramaa T. Perception of emotional nonsense sentences in China, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the USA. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology 2015, 40 (3): 129-35. DOI DOI: 10.3109/14015439.2014.915982 :

Abo-Hasseba A, Waaramaa T, Alku P, Geneid A. (2016). Differences in voice problems and noise reports between teachers of public and private schools in Upper Egypt. Journal of Voice. Published online Nov 14th 2016. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvoice.2016.10.016.

Tampere University is the only university in Finland to offer education in Speech Technique and Vocology (the science and practice of voice habilitation), consisting of up to 40 credit hours of optional undergraduate studies. It is also possible to pursue PhD studies in Speech Technique and Vocology. Undergraduate courses are only available in Finnish, while PhD studies are also available in English.

Multidisciplinary research and instruction in Speech Technique and Vocology go seamlessly together. The units of study explore voice and speech production and perception, the acoustic structure of speech, speaking and singing voice, and the role of voice and speech characteristics in communication. The studies are designed to improve your speech, vocal capacity and vocal endurance and provide you with the knowledge and skills to analyse and train voice and speech.

Speech Technique and Vocology is an excellent choice of minor for students who are aiming to pursue a career, for example, in teaching, communication, spoken media journalism or speech therapy. The studies are also well suited for teachers, singing pedagogues and speech therapists who are looking to upgrade their qualifications.

Studies in Speech Technique and Vocology (linkki) are available in the Faculty of Social Sciences where they fall in the category of welfare sciences. Our students can continue their studies towards a doctorate by enrolling in the Doctoral Programme in Psychology and Logopedics.

Speech Technique and Vocology is included in Soundnetwork, a multidisciplinary network of sound and voice research at Tampere University We offer three courses through the network (VOKPUHP1, VOKPUHP2 and VOKPUHS6).

Finnish-taught studies in Speech Technique and Vocology (40 credit hours) are also available at the Open University.

Students have the opportunity to complete 60 credit hours in Speech Education and Vocology, consisting of 40 credit hours in speech technique and vocology, 10 credit hours in communication, and 10 credit hours in logopedics. These units of study are also available at the Open University. Speech education and vocology is an excellent choice as an extended minor and suitable for updating education in many fields.

Studies in Speech Technique and Vocology are overseen by Professor Anne-Maria Laukkanen.

Vocology

Examples of our publications

Anne-Maria Laukkanen

PhD Students

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