What are the characteristics of modal voicing?
Modal or typical voicing corresponds to a regular, non-breathy voice quality used in everyday communication situations. It is characterised by sharp vocal closures producing effective excitation of the supra-laryngeal resonances. It usually has regular closures giving a reliable indication of pitch. It usually has complete closures, along the full length of the folds, preventing air-escape and turbulence during the closed phase, and wide opening preventing turbulence in the open phase. The closed phase duration is often quite long, typically 60-70% of the total cycle. This long closed phase allows the vocal tract resonances to ring for a long time without damping.
