Abstract
Numerous theories have been advanced and investigations made to account for differences in voice quality based upon a study of speech sound after it leaves the mouth. Such studies have been in many instances unreliable because formerly it was almost impossible to make an accurate study of the intra-oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal mechanisms, which are among the important structures used to produce speech and singing.
About 20 years ago it was appreciated that the X-ray, by outlining the forms and sizes of speech and singing cavities, could be the means of uncovering many of the hidden secrets of phonation. Myers 1 demonstrated a certain technic by which these structures were visualized on an X-ray plate. Later, Stephen Jones 2 devised the chain technic, which consisted of the passing of a small chain through the nostril of a subject who was instructed to swallow the loose end. An X-ray plate was then made to show the position of the chain in relation to the soft tissues. Russell 3 used a fine thread which apparently was impregnated with some substance opaque to the X-ray. The subject was made to swallow the loose end of the thread, which was supposed to remain by capillary attraction on the middle portion of the tongue. We are unable to find mention by any of the numerous investigators that the palate was satisfactorily outlined by any marker except the normal bone as shown on the X-ray film.
It must be appreciated that a mechanical means employed in outlining the forms and sizes of speech and singing cavities, such as the chain technic, gold foil, or the thread technic, could interfere with the normal functioning of the anatomic structures which produce speech.
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