Tongue and jaw movement patterns in heavy metal growling

In this study we investigated the tongue and jaw movements during heavy metal growling in comparison to modal voice to enlighten us about the relationship between the laryngeal and oral articulator. Similarly to harsh voice, growling employs supraglottic structures like the ventricular and aryepiglottic folds. Previous research suggests that the tongue dorsum assists in laryngeal constriction by retracting, and that the jaw is often lowered during laryngeal constriction. Since growling necessarily employs supraglottic structures, we hypothesised that growling would exhibit more tongue retraction and jaw-lowering than modal voice. The tongue and jaw movements of two amateur vocalists were recorded using electromagnetic articulography while they performed (in their L2 English) nonce words in modal voice and in, according to the participants, two types of growl. The study confirmed that, compared to modal voice, growl exhibits more tongue retraction, and a lower jaw. This indicates that the tongue and jaw play important roles in achieving the desired voice quality.