Why does your voice change as you get older? - Shaylin A. Schundler

譯者: Cheryl Ma 審譯者: Helen Chang

In the mid-16th century,

在 16 世紀中葉

Italians were captivated by a type of male singer

意大利人被一種男歌手迷住了

whose incredible range contained notes

那種男歌手的音域廣闊，包含的音高

previously thought impossible for adult men.

先前是一般成年男性不可能達到的

However, this gift came at a high price.

但是，這天賦有一個很高的代價

To prevent their voices from breaking,

要防止他們變聲

these singers had been castrated before puberty,

這些歌手在青春期前被閹割

halting the hormonal processes that would deepen their voices.

來停止荷爾蒙的變化， 以免他們的聲線變低沉

Known as castrati, their light, angelic voices were renowned throughout Europe,

被稱為「閹伶」，他們輕輕的、 天使般的聲音在整個歐洲很有名

until the cruel procedure that created them was outlawed in the 1800s.

直到這個殘酷的程序， 在 19 世紀被禁止

Though stunting vocal growth can produce an extraordinary musical range,

雖然阻止聲帶的成長， 可以產生一個非凡廣闊的音域

naturally developing voices are already capable of incredible variety.

但自然發展的聲音， 已經具有極多的可能性

And as we age, our bodies undergo two major changes which explore that range.

隨年紀增長，我們的身體經歷 兩個重大變化，來發展自然的音域

So how exactly does our voice box work, and what causes these shifts in speech?

那究竟我們的喉部是怎樣運作？ 是甚麼令聲線變化？

The specific sound of a speaking voice is the result of many anatomical variables,

說話的聲音， 是許多解剖學上可以解釋到的結果

but it’s mostly determined by the age and health of our vocal cords

但主要取決於年齡和聲帶的健康

and the size of our larynxes.

和喉部的大小

The larynx is a complex system of muscle and cartilage

喉部是個複雜的肌肉和軟骨系統

that supports and moves the vocal cords,

支撐和移動聲帶

or, as they’re more accurately known, the vocal folds.

或者更準確的稱呼是「聲帶褶皺」

Strung between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages,

在甲狀腺和杓狀軟骨之間拉扯

these two muscles form an elastic curtain that opens and shuts across the trachea,

這兩塊肌肉形成一個彈性窗簾 來打開和關閉氣管

the tube that carries air through the throat.

那個把空氣帶到整個喉嚨的管道

The folds are apart when we’re breathing,

當我們呼吸時，聲帶是分開的

but when we speak, they slam shut.

但當我們說話時，它們就閉上

Our lungs push air against the closed folds,

我們的肺部向關閉的聲帶推動空氣

blowing them open and vibrating the tissue to produce sound.

將它們吹開，並振動肌肉組織， 產生聲音

Unlike the deliberate focus required for playing an external instrument,

與演奏樂器時需要刻意專注不同

we effortlessly change notes as we speak.

我們說話時，輕易便可以改變音調

By pushing air faster or slower,

通過更快或更慢地推動空氣

we change the frequency and amplitude of these vibrations,

我們改變振動的頻率和幅度

which respectively translate to the pitch and volume of our voices.

來轉化為聲音的音高和聲量

Rapid and small vibrations create high-pitched, quiet tones,

快速和小的振動， 創造高音、安靜的音調

while slow, large vibrations produce deep, bellowing rumbles.

而緩慢、大的振動 產生深沉、咆哮般的隆隆響聲

Finally, by moving the laryngeal muscles between the cartilages,

最後，在軟骨之間移動喉部肌肉

we can stretch and contract those folds

我們可以伸展和收縮聲帶

to intuitively play our internal instruments.

來自然地演奏我們與生俱來的樂器

This process is the same from your first words to your last,

我們這說話的過程始終如一

but as you age, your larynx ages too.

但隨著年齡增長，喉部也會老化

During puberty, the first major shift starts,

青春期時開始第一次重大的轉變

as your voice begins to deepen.

你的聲音開始加沉

This happens when your larynx grows in size,

長大的喉部會延長聲帶

elongating the vocal folds and opening up more room for them to vibrate.

開闢更大的振動空間

These longer folds have slower, larger vibrations,

這些較長的聲帶， 振動得較慢，幅度較大

which result in a lower baseline pitch.

導致較低的底音

This growth is especially dramatic in many males,

這種聲帶的增長， 在許多男性中特別明顯

whose high testosterone levels lead first to voice cracks,

其高水平的睾丸激素先導致破聲

and then to deeper, more booming voices,

然後是更沉、更響的聲音

and laryngeal protrusions called Adam’s apples.

和喉部突起，叫喉核

Another vocal development during puberty

另一個在青春期時的聲音發展

occurs when the homogenous tissue covering the folds

發生於當覆蓋聲帶的組織

specializes into three distinct functional layers:

分成三層，各自負責不同的功能：

a central muscle,

中央肌肉

a layer of stiff collagen wrapped in stretchy elastin fibers,

一層堅硬的膠原蛋白， 包裹在富彈性的蛋白纖維中

and an outer layer of mucus membrane.

和粘膜外層

These layers add nuance and depth to the voice,

這些分層增加了聲音的層次和深度

giving it a distinct timbre that sets it apart from its pre-pubescent tones.

賦予它獨特的音色， 有別於青春期前的音調

After puberty, most people’s voices remain more or less the same

青春期後，大多數人的聲音

大約五十年會維持不變

for about 50 years.

But we all use our voices differently,

但我們都以不同的方式 使用自己的聲音

and eventually we experience the symptoms associated with aging larynxes,

最後，我們會體驗到 與喉部老化相關的症狀

known as presbyphonia.

稱為 presbyphonia

First, the collagen in our folds stiffens

我們聲帶中的膠原蛋白先硬化

and the surrounding elastin fibers atrophy and decay.

周圍富彈性的蛋白纖維萎縮和衰弱

This decreased flexibility increases the pitch of older voices.

降低靈活性會提高老人的聲線

But for people who have experienced the hormonal effects of menopause,

但對於經歷過更年期 荷爾蒙變化的人來說

the higher pitch is countered and outweighed by swollen vocal folds.

較高的音調，被腫脹的聲帶抵消

The folds' increased mass slows their vibrations, resulting in deeper voices.

聲帶體積的增加減慢振動的速度

導致更深沉的聲音

All these symptoms are further complicated

所有這些症狀，都會進一步更複雜化

by having fewer healthy laryngeal nerve endings,

因喉部健康的神經末梢減少

which reduces precise muscle control and causes breathy or rough voices.

這減弱了肌肉的控制能力， 並導致氣喘似的，或粗啞的聲音

Ultimately, these anatomical changes are just a few of the factors

最終，這些解剖學上解釋到的變化

that can affect your voice.

只是影響聲音的其中一些因素

But when kept in good condition,

但若能夠保持良好狀態

your voice box is a finely tuned instrument,

你的喉部是一個精密調節過的樂器

capable of operatic arias,

能夠成就歌劇裡的詠嘆調

moody monologues,

七情六慾的獨白劇

and stirring speeches.

和激動人心的演說