[Script Info] Title: [Events] Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.31,0:00:08.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the mid-16th century, Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.88,0:00:11.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Italians were captivated by a type \Nof male singer Dialogue: 0,0:00:11.67,0:00:14.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose incredible range contained notes Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.14,0:00:17.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,previously thought impossible \Nfor adult men. Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.19,0:00:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, this gift came at a high price. Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.96,0:00:22.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To prevent their voices from breaking, Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.04,0:00:25.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these singers had been \Ncastrated before puberty, Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.10,0:00:28.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,halting the hormonal processes \Nthat would deepen their voices. Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.83,0:00:33.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Known as Castrati, their light, angelic \Nvoices were renowned throughout Europe, Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.79,0:00:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until the cruel procedure that created \Nthem was outlawed in the 1800s. Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.28,0:00:43.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Though stunting vocal growth can produce \Nan extraordinary musical range, Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.48,0:00:48.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,naturally developing voices \Nare already capable of incredible variety. Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.35,0:00:54.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as we age our bodies undergo two\Nmajor changes which explore that range. Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.73,0:01:00.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how exactly does our voice box work,\Nand what causes these shifts in speech? Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.01,0:01:05.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The specific sound of a speaking voice is\Nthe result of many anatomical variables, Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.59,0:01:09.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it’s mostly determined by the age \Nand health of our vocal cords, Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.63,0:01:12.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the size of our larynxes. Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.23,0:01:16.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The larynx is a complex system \Nof muscle and cartilage Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.24,0:01:18.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that supports and moves the vocal cords, Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.86,0:01:22.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or as they’re more accurately known, \Nthe vocal folds. Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.81,0:01:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Strung between the thyroid \Nand arytenoid cartilages, Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.86,0:01:31.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these two muscles form an elastic curtain\Nthat opens and shuts across the trachea Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.64,0:01:34.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the tube that carries \Nair through the throat. Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.58,0:01:36.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The folds are apart when we’re breathing, Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.80,0:01:39.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when we speak, they slam shut. Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.14,0:01:42.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our lungs push air \Nagainst the closed folds, Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.50,0:01:46.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,blowing them open and vibrating\Nthe tissue to produce sound. Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.48,0:01:50.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Unlike the deliberate focus required \Nfor playing an external instrument, Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.28,0:01:53.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we effortlessly change notes as we speak. Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.56,0:01:55.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By pushing air faster or slower, Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.44,0:01:58.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we change the frequency and amplitude \Nof these vibrations, Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.92,0:02:03.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which respectively translate to the pitch \Nand volume of our voices. Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.07,0:02:07.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rapid and small vibrations create \Nhigh-pitched quiet tones, Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.60,0:02:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while slow, large vibrations \Nproduce deep, bellowing rumbles. Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.74,0:02:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, by moving the laryngeal muscles \Nbetween the cartilages, Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.34,0:02:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we can stretch and contract those folds Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.10,0:02:22.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to intuitively play \Nour internal instruments. Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.64,0:02:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This process is the same from \Nyour first words to your last, Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.48,0:02:29.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but as you age, your larynx ages too. Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.47,0:02:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During puberty, \Nthe first major shift starts, Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.78,0:02:34.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as your voice begins to deepen. Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.99,0:02:38.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This happens when \Nyour larynx grows in size, Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.66,0:02:43.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,elongating the vocal folds and\Nopening up more room for them to vibrate. Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.56,0:02:47.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These longer folds have slower, \Nlarger vibrations, Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.44,0:02:50.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which result in a lower baseline pitch. Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.65,0:02:53.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This growth is especially dramatic\Nin many males, Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.31,0:02:57.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose high testosterone levels\Nlead first to voice cracks, Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.05,0:03:00.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then to deeper, more booming voices, Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.17,0:03:04.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and laryngeal protrusions \Ncalled Adam’s apples. Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.26,0:03:06.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another vocal development during puberty Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.79,0:03:09.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,occurs when the homogenous tissue\Ncovering the folds Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.71,0:03:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,specializes into three distinct \Nfunctional layers: Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.62,0:03:15.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a central muscle, Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.12,0:03:19.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a layer of stiff collagen wrapped \Nin stretchy elastin fibers, Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.71,0:03:23.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and an outer layer of mucus membrane. Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.14,0:03:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These layers add nuance \Nand depth to the voice, Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.92,0:03:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,giving it a distinct timbre that sets it \Napart from its pre-pubescent tones. Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.76,0:03:35.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After puberty, most people’s voices remain\Nmore or less the same Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.59,0:03:37.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for about 50 years. Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.71,0:03:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But we all use our voices differently, Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.63,0:03:44.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and eventually we experience the\Nsymptoms associated with aging larynxes, Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.44,0:03:46.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,known as presbyphonia. Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.12,0:03:48.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First, the collagen in our folds stiffens Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.100,0:03:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the surrounding elastin fibers \Natrophy and decay. Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.72,0:03:57.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This decreased flexibility increases \Nthe pitch of older voices. Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.81,0:04:01.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But for people who have experienced \Nthe hormonal effects of menopause, Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.22,0:04:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the higher pitch is countered\Nand outweighed by swollen vocal folds. Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.26,0:04:13.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The folds increased mass slows their\Nvibrations, resulting in deeper voices. Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.32,0:04:15.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All these symptoms are further complicated Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.40,0:04:18.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by having fewer healthy \Nlaryngeal nerve endings, Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.74,0:04:23.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which reduces precise muscle control \Nand causes breathy or rough voices. Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.100,0:04:28.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, these anatomical changes \Nare just a few of the factors Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.19,0:04:30.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can affect your voice. Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.07,0:04:31.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But when kept in good condition, Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.79,0:04:34.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,your voice box \Nis a finely tuned instrument; Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.60,0:04:36.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,capable of operatic arias, Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.67,0:04:38.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,moody monologues, Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.09,0:04:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and stirring speeches.