Identification of the Speaker's Sex from Voiceless Fricatives

A series of experiments was run to study the ability of listeners to determine the sex of the speaker on hearing voiceless fricatives [ɸ,f,θ,s,∫,ç,x,χ,h] spoken in isolation. The accuracy of such identifications corresponded in general to the portion of the vocal tract in front of the place of constriction. Thus, a speaker's sex was more easily identified when he produced [h,χ,x] than when he produced [θ,f,ɸ]. [s] and [∫] also provided for sex identification. Attempts to locate the cues for identification in a portion of the fricative by tape-cutting experiments did not produce positive results.