Generating Tonal Distinctions in Mandarin Chinese Using an Electrolarynx with Pre-Programmed Tone Patterns

An electrolarynx (EL) is a valuable rehabilitative option for individuals who have undergone laryngectomy, but current monotone ELs do not support controlled variations in fundamental frequency for producing tonal languages. This study examined the production and perception of Mandarin Chinese using a commercially available EL being controlled by computer software to generate tonal distinctions (tonal EL). Four native Mandarin speakers were trained to articulate their speech coincidentally with pre-programmed tonal patterns in order to produce mono- and di-syllabic words with a monotone EL and tonal EL. Three native Mandarin speakers later transcribed and rated the speech samples for intelligibility and acceptability. Results indicated that words produced using the tonal EL were significantly more intelligible and acceptable than those produced using the monotone EL. Future research is needed to combine the preset tones to support running speech and determine a user-friendly interface for tone selection.