CHAPTER XXII. 

 VOICE AND SPEECH. 



Voice consists of sounds produced by the vibrations of 

 two elastic bands called the vocal cords. These cords lie 

 in the larynx, which is situated between the pharynx and 

 the windpipe, and is a portion of the passage conveying air 

 to the lungs specially modified to form a voice-organ. 



The vocal cords project into the larynx so that but a 

 narrow slit, called the glottis, is left between them. When 

 the vocal cords are put in a certain position air driven 

 through the glottis sets them vibrating and they give 

 origin to sounds. The stronger the blast the louder the 

 voice. 



The pitch of the voice is primarily dependent on the size 

 of the larynx. The larger it is, or what comes to the same 

 thing, the longer the vocal cords are, the lower is the pitch 

 of the voice. In children, therefore, the voice is shrill; 

 and, as the female larynx is usually smaller than the male, 

 a woman's voice is usually higher pitched than a man's. 

 About sixteen or seventeen years of age a boy's larynx 

 grows very fast, and his voice "breaks," becoming about 

 an octave deeper in tone. 



How is voice produced? Where do the vocal cords lie? Where 

 is the larynx situated? 



What is the glottis? When do the vocal cords give origin to 

 sounds? On what does the loudness of the voice depend? 



How does the size of larynx influence the pitch of the voice? 

 Why is a woman's voice commonly higher pitched than a man's? 

 Why does a youth's voice break? 



