Factor Analysis of Proficient Esophageal Speech: Toward a Multidimensional Model

This study identified acoustic patterns in the speech samples of 26 esophageal speakers judged by experienced listeners to be highly proficient and intelligible. Tape-recorded readings were acoustically analyzed in terms of frequency, intensity, and duration variables. Application of two multidimensional statistical procedures, factor analysis and cluster analysis, revealed four distinctive acoustic profiles that captured all 26 subjects. The multidimensional model derived from these profiles maintains important individual differences in alaryngeal speech style.