POSE · 32 source scenarios
Body Posture & Gravitational Alignment
Source concept: Static physical configuration of the speaker. How gravity, skeletal alignment, and thoracic compression alter the vocal tract and diaphragm.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Focus only on acoustic evidence of where the body is relative to gravity.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "puddled" voice. Fluid redistribution causes mild nasal congestion. The tongue falls back, slightly dampening high frequencies. Energy is low; projection is poor because the diaphragm fights gravity to lift the viscera.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "pressed" voice. The physical weight of the body crushes the rib cage against the floor. Inhalations are shorter and slightly labored. The voice sounds closer to the ground, with less chest resonance.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "cozy" voice. One lung is restricted by the floor, the other is open. Breath is quiet and intimate. Soft, low-volume, with minimal dynamic range.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "stretched" voice. The neck is arched backward over an edge. The skin of the throat is tight, raising the pitch slightly and thinning the tone. Swallowing is audible and difficult.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Similar to prone, but the upper chest is open. Abdominal compression (stomach pressed into floor) but clearer projection than being fully flat.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "mushy" voice. The spine is C-shaped, collapsing the diaphragm. Articulation is lazy; the jaw barely moves. The voice lacks drive or attack.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "standard" voice. Balanced resonance. Breath support is stable but lacks the full power of standing. Neutral acoustic baseline.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "alert" sitter. Core muscles engaged to maintain balance. Voice slightly more energized and tighter than neutral sitting.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "grounded" voice. Spine usually straight, hips tight. Slight bracing in the voice, resonance implies mouth closer to reflective surfaces.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "compressed" voice. Chest cavity physically made smaller. Voice often directed downward, sounding darker and more introspective. Breath is shallow.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Blend of relaxed torso with arm tension from holding wheel. Often louder projection to overcome cabin noise, but with sitting breath capacity.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "open" voice. Maximum lung capacity. Clear, resonant, and effortless. Reference point for zero acoustic impedance.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "hard" voice. Chest puffed out; neck muscles tense. Tension transfers to larynx, making voice metallic, barked, or overly projected.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "cool" voice. Slight phase cancellation or bass boost from wall reflection behind head. Vertical but relaxed/asymmetrical.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Asymmetrical stance. Often correlates with casual or sassy tone. Vertical but lacks rigid drive of neutral stance.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "dominant" voice. Elbows out, mechanically locking rib cage expanded. Voice naturally louder and more commanding.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "thinned" voice. Trachea stretched. Larynx pulled upward, shortening the vocal tract. Voice sounds lighter, tighter, higher-pitched.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "gravel" voice. Larynx compressed; double chin effect dampens sound. Voice becomes creaky, bass-heavy, and mumbled.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Torsion in neck muscles restricts larynx on one side. Phonation sounds slightly strained or squeezed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "smushed" face. Palm pushes one cheek up, distorting mouth shape. Bilabial sounds are clumsy. Voice sounds bored or tired.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "small" voice. Knees against chest; maximum compression. Breathing rapid and shallow. Voice hushed, anxious, acoustically boxed in.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "rush" voice. Blood rushes to head; diaphragm crushed. Voice sounds congested, thick, and strained.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "valsalva" voice. High abdominal pressure for core stability. Grunting glottal closure and strained, pushed tone.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Similar to standing but less grounding. Acoustically open in chest. Often correlates with submissive or pleading tone.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "gargle." Gravity reverses blood flow. Vocal folds engorge, making voice extremely thick, wet, and difficult to control.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "claustrophobic" voice. Shoulders hunched to ears, shortening neck. Tight, tense sound. Very short acoustic reflections.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "pulled" voice. Rib cage stretched to limit. Difficult to inhale deeply. Voice thin, lacking lower resonance.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Uneven lung expansion. Breath control erratic/wobbly. Effort of twist audible in vowel stability.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "breathless" slump. Heavy uncontrolled breathing overpowers speech. Body limp, voice has zero tension.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "fade." Vocal cord closure weak (breathy/whispery). Volume trails off at end of sentences.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "strangled" voice. External pressure on neck or chest. Airflow turbulent and raspy. Pitch erratic.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "forced" exhale. Cannot inhale freely. Short panicked syllables squeezed out against resistance.
ACTV · 69 source scenarios
Physical Activity & Dynamic Load
Source concept: How metabolic demand, physical movement, and interaction with objects compete with the speech signal.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Based on acoustic evidence only - specific breath patterns, rhythmic interference, or handling noise.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Sharp high-frequency transients (snaps, crunches) >2kHz. Irregular pauses for swallowing. Tempo slows to mitigate choking risk.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "full mouth" resonance. Tongue occupied with food bolus, causing wet smacking and dampened lingual consonants. Vowels sound wider.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Fluid Sequence": speech stops, liquid slosh, heavy wet glottal closure gulp, wet release exhalation, speech resumes.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Extreme articulation distortion. Jaw held open, destroying labial consonants. Constant background scrubbing noise and foaming saliva.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Drag Cycle": audible inhalation with crackle, silence for breath hold, speech during exhalation creating turbulent friction under the voice.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Pharyngeal Slide." Pharynx expands to maximum, voice pitch slides dramatically downward. Articulation becomes hollow and rounded.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Fast rhythmic rain of plastic clicks. "Cognitive Load Pacing": as typing speed increases, speech rate slows or fragments.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Louder, more mechanical bursty clicks. Chair squeaks, sudden volume shifts, rapid-fire adrenaline-fueled speech patterns.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Quiet continuous scritch-scratch friction. Head often angled down causing slight muffling. Pacing slow and synchronized with hand movement.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: "Acoustic Shadow." Voice directed downward. Quiet thumb-taps. High frequency of distracted fillers while visual attention is occupied.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Rhythmic repetitive friction sounds. Breath often synchronizes with arm movement.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Complex soundscape of sizzling, chopping, clattering. Lombard Effect: speaker projects louder to compete with kitchen noise.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Constant white noise floor of running water. Sharp clinks of glass and ceramics. Voice loud but distant.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Heavy fabric rustling, zipper zips, plastic crinkles. Speech shifts to object-search mode with mumbling and distracted tempo.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Dry sliding shuffling and sharp paper snaps. Voice often drops to whisper or mumble while reading.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Very quiet rhythmic metallic click-click. Breathing usually very calm and steady, meditative state.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Heavy rhythmic impacts or metallic ratcheting. Effort grunts at moment of torque or impact interrupt speech.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Heavy fabric swooshing that may cover mouth temporarily. Compression grunts from bending over for shoes/pants.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Rhythmic physical bounce in voice from rocking. Tone hushed. One side of chest often compressed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Gentle relaxed lilt or bobbing in voice pitch (~1Hz). Footsteps barely audible. Breathing slightly deeper than sitting but controlled.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Pump." Physical impact of heel-strike creates micro-tremor in voice. Inhalations become audible and rhythmic every 4-6 words.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Loud crunching footsteps compete with speech. Speaker raises volume and articulates more clearly.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Ascension." Progressive breathlessness. Pitch tends to rise with effort. Sentences chopped into 2-3 word chunks.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Labor." Heavy deep full-lung breathing. Long pauses between short phrases. Voice has puffed quality.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Jogger's Tremolo." Voice shakes in sync with step cadence. Breathing machine-like and rhythmic, cannot be interrupted for speech.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Communication Breakdown. Only single syllables or short shouts between violent loud gasps. Voice raw, panicked, unmodulated.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Valsalva Maneuver." Breath held to brace core, then strangled vocalization under pressure, ending with explosive breath release.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Chaos." Sharp sudden impacts. Grunts of pain or exertion. Breath erratic and jagged. Voice aggressive, barking, or screaming.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Distinct wet acoustic environment. Speaker gulps air quickly. Speech accompanied by hollow shimmering reverb of water surface.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Chatter." Involuntary vocal tremolo (~8-10Hz) from core muscle spasms. Jaw tense/locked. Speaker hisses through clenched teeth.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Inspiratory Spasm." Inhalation jerky like reverse hiccup. Pharynx wet/mucousy. Pitch cracks frequently. Vowels wavering.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Wheeze." Total inability to articulate due to rapid exhalation spasms. High-pitched squeaks or silence where speaker runs out of air.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Leak." Glottis clamped shut, voice high-pitched, squeaky, leaking out under extreme pressure.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Aphonation. No vocal cord vibration. Speech shaped entirely by air turbulence. High frequencies emphasized; low frequencies absent.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Smacking wet lip sounds. Extremely close proximity (bass boost). Breath soft, slow, interspersed with soft moans.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Heave." Retching sounds. Speech garbled, watery, interrupted by involuntary stomach contraction. Voice thick with mucus.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Involuntary vocalization. Rhythmic breathing becomes spasmodic. Pitch rises sharply. Loss of articulation control, replaced by moans and gasps.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Explosive percussive blasts of air. Voice immediately following is raspy or wet until cords clear.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Build-up (sharp intake), explosion, recovery (nasal congested speech due to mucosal swelling).
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Sharp high-pitched intake from diaphragm spasm cuts words in half.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Deep guttural vibration from esophagus. Voice momentarily drops into ultra-low monster vocal fry.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Background engine hum and turn signal clicks. Focus pauses when navigating, head-turn voice drops.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Shimmer." Voice wavers or vibrates rapidly from vehicle shaking. Like artificial vibrato the speaker cannot control.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Constant mechanical buzz. Speaker distorts cheek/lip to flatten skin, changing vowel shapes.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "pedal pulse." Breathing is deep, rhythmic, and locked to the cadence of the legs. Unlike running, there is no vertical impact bounce in the voice — instead a steady, pressured airstream. The saddle compresses the pelvis, slightly tightening the lower abdomen. Speech comes in short bursts timed to exhalation phases. At high intensity, the voice becomes a forced whisper between gasps.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "drive-and-recover." A binary rhythm: explosive grunt on the pull stroke (glottis slams shut for core bracing), then a rushed, breathy phrase during the recovery slide. The body rocks forward and backward, creating a Doppler-like pitch wobble. Sweat and grip strain add tension to the jaw.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "cling." Arms overhead and weight on fingertips. The rib cage is stretched and exposed, but the core is locked tight for stability. Speech is whispered or staccato — the speaker cannot waste a single breath on projection. Fear of falling adds a tremor. Head is often tilted upward (chin-up vocal tract geometry).
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "bounce." Full-body rhythmic movement creates a fast, regular tremolo in the voice synced to the beat. Breathing is elevated but often masked by adrenaline and music. The speaker shouts to be heard over the music (extreme Lombard effect). Laughter and exclamations punctuate the gaps between dance moves.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "gasp window." Speech is only possible during the brief head-turn to breathe. Words are expelled in 1-2 syllable bursts between strokes. Water in the mouth and nose creates gurgling and sputtering. The voice is urgent, clipped, and has a wet, hollow quality from the pool acoustic environment.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "grind." A constant low-grade Valsalva — the core is braced to support the weight, restricting the diaphragm. Breathing is shallow and rapid. Speech has a strained, pushed quality. Footsteps are heavy and thudding. Over time, the voice progressively weakens as fatigue accumulates. Grunting on every step at extreme loads.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "heave-ho." Rhythmic, percussive effort grunts synced to the shovel strike. The torso bends and straightens cyclically, alternately compressing and expanding the chest. Dirt and gravel sounds punctuate the background. Speech is choppy, timed to the brief upright recovery between digs.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "split." A sharp, explosive grunt at the moment of impact, followed by the crack of splitting wood. Speech only occurs during the wind-up or between swings. Arms-overhead position stretches the rib cage. The voice has a raw, outdoorsy, unmasked quality — zero social filtering.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "launch." A sharp exhalation or "hup!" on every takeoff, followed by a thud on landing. The voice jolts violently on each impact. Speaking during jump sequences is nearly impossible — words are fragmented into single syllables launched mid-air and cut off on landing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "kiai." Sharp, explosive shouts timed to strikes — these are functional (bracing the core) not decorative. Between exchanges, breathing is controlled and predatory. The voice switches between feral intensity during engagement and calm, measured breathing during circling. Impact sounds of body hits and mat slaps.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "tremor hold." Muscles shaking under isometric load creates a visible vibrato in the voice. Breathing is deliberately controlled (ujjayi breath — audible oceanic friction in the throat). Speech is slow, strained, and often directed inward. The instructor's cue to "breathe" is ironic — the speaker can barely manage it.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "bob." The mouth intermittently dips below the waterline, creating a rhythmic alternation between clear speech and gurgling. Breathing is panicked and gulping if fatigued. Splashing water noise competes with the voice. Arms are occupied, so the speaker cannot gesture — all expression is purely vocal.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "slow burn." Breathing gradually deepens and slows. The voice drops in pitch and becomes increasingly breathy and soft. Whispered words alternate with sighs and soft moans. Wet mouth sounds (kissing, licking) punctuate the speech. Articulation loosens as cognitive focus shifts from language to sensation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "thrust rhythm." Breathing becomes heavy, rhythmic, and locked to physical movement. Speech fragments into single words or short commands. Effort grunts sync with exertion. The voice oscillates between breathy whispers (intimate) and involuntary vocalizations (primal). Bed springs, skin contact, and movement noise in background.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wave." Vocalizations are primarily reactive — moans, gasps, and cries that rise and fall with stimulation intensity. Breathing is irregular and punctuated by held breath at peaks of pleasure. The voice may crack into higher registers involuntarily. Speech, when attempted, is fragmentary and loses syntactic structure.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "hum." The mouth is physically occupied, making articulation impossible. Vocalizations are limited to nasal moans, humming, and throat sounds. Breathing is restricted to nasal passages. If the speaker attempts words, they are extremely muffled and distorted. Wet, slurping sounds are prominent.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "unravel." The mouth is free but the brain is overwhelmed by sensation. Speech degrades from coherent sentences to fragments to pure vocalization. Breathing is irregular with sharp intakes. The pitch rises progressively. Moans have a melodic, sustained quality. The speaker may grip surfaces, creating incidental sounds.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "aria." Extended, semi-musical vocalizations on open vowels ("ah," "oh"). Pitch contours rise and fall with pleasure waves. The glottis alternates between full phonation (moans) and breathy phonation (sighs). Volume builds with intensity. These are partially involuntary — the speaker cannot fully suppress them.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "strain." Movement is restricted, creating frustrated physical tension that transfers to the voice. Breathing is elevated from arousal and mild panic. Speech may be muffled by a gag (if present) or strained against bindings. The voice sounds vulnerable, exposed, and stripped of physical agency. Rope creak or chain clink in background.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "sting." Sharp, involuntary yelps or gasps at the moment of impact, followed by a recovery moan that transitions from pain to pleasure. Breathing is anticipatory — held breath before the strike, explosive release after. The voice pitch spikes on impact then settles. Counting or verbal acknowledgment may be required by the dynamic.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "squeeze." Progressively restricted airflow. The voice thins, rises in pitch, and becomes raspy as pressure increases on the throat. Phonation becomes turbulent — a wet, crackling quality. On release, a loud gasp followed by euphoric, dizzy-sounding speech. Extremely dangerous — the acoustic signature is unmistakable.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "cliff." Vocalizations build toward a crescendo (increasing pitch, volume, and tempo) then are abruptly forced back down. The speaker makes frustrated, whimpering sounds during denial. Breathing is jagged and unsatisfied. Multiple build-and-stop cycles create increasingly desperate, pleading vocal quality. Speech dissolves into begging.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "private." Vocalizations are typically suppressed or minimal — soft breathing, quiet moans, occasional whispered fantasy narration. The speaker may hold their breath during peaks. If vocalizing freely, the sounds are unselfconscious and raw. No audience awareness — purely involuntary vocal responses to self-stimulation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "dissolve." Extreme vocal fry and minimal effort. Breathing is slowly returning to baseline but still elevated. The voice is warm, intimate, and completely unguarded. Endorphins create a dreamy, languid quality. Speech is slow, content, and punctuated by satisfied sighs. Muscle relaxation removes all tension from the throat.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "cascade." Each climax produces a peak vocalization (scream, moan, or silent apnea), followed by a brief recovery of shaky, overwhelmed breathing, before the next wave hits. The voice becomes progressively more destroyed — hoarse, cracking, and uncontrolled. By the third or fourth, speech is completely impossible.
TRGT · 25 source scenarios
Speaking Target & Projection
Source concept: Who or what the speaker is addressing. Determines the throw of voice, register, and feedback loop.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Based on distance cues, intonation patterns, and articulation effort.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Low volume, lazy articulation, swallowed consonants. Narrow pitch range. Sentences trail off without finishing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Processing" tone. Slow pacing with irregular pauses. Searching quality with elongated vowels, lacks projection.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Maximum volume but no communicative intent. Raw, often lacking distinct words. Pure cathartic release.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Hushed, reverent, or chanting quality. Highly regular or melodic rhythm. Lacks conversational fluctuations.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Proximity Effect dominant: extremely close, boosting bass. Phonation breathy or creaky. Soft consonants. Implies exclusivity.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Side-Mouth." Hushed but hyper-precise articulation for clarity without being overheard. Monotonous pitch.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Neutral baseline. Moderate volume, relaxed turn-taking. Contractions used. Rising intonation for turn signals.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: High intensity, hard glottal attacks. Loud but dry (little reverb), implying very close physical proximity.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: "Distance Compensation." Slightly louder than natural. Checking intonation (upward inflection) to verify connection. Clearer enunciation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Slight projection (2-3m radius). Phase shifts as speaker's head turns to address different people.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Teacher Voice." Projected from diaphragm. Pace deliberately slowed. Key terms heavily stressed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Maximum unamplified volume. Percussive staccato rhythm. Vowels shouted, consonants hard/spat.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Strained projection cutting through ambient noise. Repetitive looping cadences. Elevated pitch.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Vowels heavily elongated to carry over distance. Consonants dropped. Significant delay between phrases.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Politician." High energy but controlled volume. Large dynamic range. Dramatic pauses.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "News Prosody." Artificial, polished pitch contours. Non-regional accent. No waiting for response.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: "False Intimacy." Close-mic technique (warm, dry, bass-heavy) but performative/projected energy.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Stage Whisper." A whisper loud enough for the back row. Over-articulation of final consonants.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: High pitch baseline. Exaggerated swooping pitch contours. Simplified vocabulary. Slow, repetitive tempo.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Similar to parentese but includes clicks, kissy-noises, whistles, short command bursts. Tone swings between affection and command.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Robot Talk." Hyper-correct pronunciation. Unnatural pauses between words. Flat intonation. Emotion removed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Typewriter" voice. Fast, steady, monotone. Punctuation spoken aloud. Zero emotional affect.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Loud & Slow." Volume consistently high. Tempo dragged. Articulation exaggerated for lip-reading.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Simplifier." Grammar stripped down. Words separated by distinct gaps. Volume unnecessarily loud.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Cut-In." Higher pitch and faster tempo to steal the floor. Voice urgent, pushing against the other person's rhythm.
SOCT · 56 source scenarios
Social Situation & Context
Source concept: The social game being played. Captures psychological intent, power dynamics, register, and emotional masking.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Based on prosodic and register cues. Listen for masking, status, and stakes.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Alpha Shield." Guarded, low-pitched, steady. Deliberate lack of emotional leakage. Competitive but polite turn-taking.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Smile-Voice." Pitch artificially raised. High uptalk usage. Articulation clear but emotion detached or plastic.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Fine Print." Rapid-fire monotone delivery. Emphasis on qualifying words. Zero melody; goal is accuracy.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Detach." Gentle but investigative. Soft to soothe, clinically distant for authority. Falling intonation for questions.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Anxious Professional." High energy masked by careful grammar. Agreement noises. Over-enunciation. Shallow breath from nerves.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Nag/Whine." Overlapping speech. Nasal or high-pitched complaining. Cyclical repetition with increasing frustration.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Power Imbalance." One voice stern using silence as weapon; other voice shaky with hedging language.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Submission." High pitch, shaky breath, creaky onset. Speaker talks quickly before being cut off. Submissive tone.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Suppression." Hyperventilating but forcing steady voice. Rapid rate, high pitch, staccato delivery.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Growl." Pitch drops to bottom of range. Tempo slows to invade acoustic space. Lazy but threatening articulation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Sugar-Coated Knife." Sweet polite tone but stress falls on wrong words. Frequent heavy sighing implying judgment.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Melt." Extreme vocal fry. Very slow tempo. Minimal articulation. Long comfortable silences. Voice unprojected.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Play." Breathy voice. Frequent soft laughter. Men drop pitch; women raise pitch or use head voice. Teasing rhythm.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Huddle." Rapid-fire pacing, hushed volume, sudden pitch spikes. Intonation invites listener into exclusive circle.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Blanket." Steady, rhythmic, low-frequency hum. Downward inflections on every sentence. Speaker matches distressed person's breathing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Drop." Volume drops at moment of truth. Hesitation markers increase. Speaker avoids assertive downward intonation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Posturing." Loud volume, heavy slang. Boisterous percussive laughter. Frequent friendly interruptions.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Gap." Frequent uncomfortable silences. Excessive filler laughs. Topics shift rapidly.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Lombard Shift." Projecting over background noise while trying to sound casual. Elevated pitch, short punchy sentences.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Tactical." Mix of high-stress callouts and casual banter. Instant code-switching between focus mode and social mode.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Theater." Wide dynamic range. Character voices. Hypnotic rhythm.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Nervous Formal." Poor projection with public speaking tremor mixed with sentimental language. Overly long pauses.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Cadence." Musical rhythmic delivery. Huge dynamic swells. Call-and-response gaps.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Bark." Zero emotion. Maximum volume. Words clipped short for distance carry without echoing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Cognitive Load." Subtle pitch increase. Over-explanation. Inconsistency between word confidence and voice shakiness.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Drone." Nasal resonance. Repetitive sing-song pitch contour. Elongated vowels to emphasize suffering.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Slur." Loss of tongue motor control. Volume control fails. Emotional volatility.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Teacher Tone." Low pitch, slow tempo. Distinct word separation. Heavy final intonation drop.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Caricature." Nasal exaggerated tone mimicking someone. Extreme pitch contours.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "hollow." A voice emptied of its normal energy. Long, vacant pauses. The pitch is low and monotone, punctuated by sudden cracks into crying. Sentences start with intention but collapse midway. Swallowing is frequent and audible as the speaker fights the lump in the throat. A quality of disbelief — "this can't be real" — pervades the tone.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "shatter." The voice wavers between numb flatness and sudden sobbing outbursts. Sentences are obsessively repetitive ("I can't believe...", "How could..."). The pitch is unstable — the speaker cannot find their normal register. Breath hitches (mini-sobs) interrupt even calm sentences. A raw, exposed vulnerability makes every word sound like it physically hurts.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "burst." Volume spikes uncontrollably. Pitch jumps to the top of the speaker's range. Speech rate accelerates until words tumble over each other. Laughter and crying become indistinguishable (tears of joy). The speaker may scream, jump, or hyperventilate. Sentences are fragmentary — the emotion overflows faster than language can contain it.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "acid." A controlled but bitter tone. The voice is tight, clipped, and slightly higher than baseline from tension. Fake congratulations sound hollow — the smile doesn't reach the voice. Sarcastic undertones bleed through despite effort. The speaker often falls silent when the object of envy is discussed, then re-enters with forced casualness.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "spiral." Hyperventilation dominates — rapid, shallow, audible gasping that the speaker cannot control. Speech is fragmented, repetitive, and catastrophic ("I'm dying," "I can't breathe"). The voice is high-pitched and quavering. Physical symptoms (tingling, chest pain) make the speaker sound genuinely medically distressed. Attempts to speak trigger more hyperventilation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "shrink." The voice physically retracts — volume drops to near-inaudible. The speaker wishes to disappear. Sentences trail off into nothing. The pitch is flat and defeated. If forced to speak, the voice cracks. Swallowing and throat-clearing increase as the body physically tightens. The speaker avoids eye contact, and the voice follows — directed at the floor.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "ache." A warm but sorrowful tone. The voice softens and slows as the speaker enters the memory. Pitch descends gently. Sentences lengthen and become poetic or descriptive. Sighing is frequent. A bittersweet smile is audible — the voice is simultaneously fond and pained. Long pauses as the speaker lingers in the feeling.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "transcendence." The voice breaks free of normal conversational patterns into something chant-like, glossolalic, or sing-song. Pitch soars. The tempo becomes rhythmic and almost musical. The speaker may cry, laugh, or fall into ecstatic repetition. Rationality and self-monitoring are abandoned — the voice sounds possessed or channeling.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "glass wall." Flat, robotic affect. The speaker sounds like they are narrating someone else's life. Zero pitch variation. Responses are delayed as if traveling through fog. The voice has an eerie calm that is more disturbing than screaming. Words are technically coherent but emotionally vacant. No filler words — just empty, precise statements.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "rocket." Extremely fast, pressured speech — the speaker cannot stop talking. Ideas cascade and jump tangentially (flight of ideas). Volume is too loud. Grandiosity inflates the tone — everything sounds like a TED talk. Laughter is frequent and unearned. The speaker interrupts themselves before finishing sentences to start new ones. Energy feels limitless but brittle.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "eruption." Maximum volume delivered from the gut. Vocal cords are slammed together — the voice is rough, distorted, and may crack from sheer force. Sentences become short, percussive attacks. Profanity increases. Pitch drops to the basement or jumps to screaming. Breathing is heavy and snorting. Objects may be thrown or struck — crashes and impacts in background.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "exhale." A long, shuddering outbreath that carries the weight of sustained tension. The voice trembles but is rising — pitch lifts with hope. Laughter and tears mix freely. The speaker may collapse physically (audible body drop or slump). Sentences often begin with "Oh my God" or "Thank God." The tone transitions from shaky to warm over seconds.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "performance." Breathy, low-pitched, deliberately seductive vocal quality. The speaker narrates actions and sensations in real-time — slow, descriptive, and hypnotic. Moans and sighs are semi-performative (louder and more shaped than genuine arousal). Close-mic proximity effect makes the voice warm and bass-heavy. Pauses are filled with audible breathing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "command." Low pitch, authoritative delivery. Words are chosen for shock value and spoken with deliberate, hard articulation. The tone oscillates between growling dominance and breathy seduction. Profanity is weaponized — delivered with relish. Volume modulates between whispered threats in the ear and firm, projected commands.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "polarity." Two distinct vocal registers in one interaction: the Dominant voice is steady, low, slow, and uses clipped commands with falling intonation ("Kneel." "Look at me."). The Submissive voice is high, breathy, compliant, and uses rising intonation seeking approval ("Yes, Sir?" "Like this?"). The power asymmetry is entirely audible.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "velvet." Every vocal parameter is consciously optimized. Pitch is lowered. Tempo is slowed. Pauses are loaded with intention. The speaker mirrors the target's speech patterns (rapport building). Compliments are delivered with a slight breathiness. Laughter is strategically placed. The voice sounds effortlessly charming — which requires enormous effort.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wall." Abrupt shift from warm to firm. The pitch flattens. Volume drops but clarity increases — every word is deliberate to leave no ambiguity. "No" is said with a downward inflection and a period, not a question mark. Awkwardness creates audible discomfort: throat clearing, shifted posture, and a desire to exit the conversation quickly.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "shortcut." Fast-forwarded intimacy — the voice is warmer and more familiar than the actual relationship warrants. Both speakers use a lot of nervous laughter to mask vulnerability. Volume is conspiratorially low (don't want friends/roommates to hear). Sentences are short and logistical ("Your place or mine?") masked in casual affect.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "landing." The Dominant voice shifts from commanding to extremely tender — soft, low, reassuring. The Submissive voice is small, shaky, and child-like (subdrop). Both voices are exhausted and intimate. Blanket rustling, water sipping, and soft physical contact sounds. The rhythm is slow and repetitive — "You did so well," "I've got you" — like soothing an infant.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "checkpoint." A deliberate shift from aroused/playful to serious/clear. The voice becomes notably more sober, slower, and articulate. Rising intonation for genuine questions ("Is this okay?"). The listener's response is carefully attended to — silence triggers a full stop. If boundaries are stated, the voice is firm but not hostile. An audible gear-shift back to arousal follows a clear "yes."
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "kneel." The voice drops in volume and pitch — the speaker makes themselves acoustically smaller. Sentences are carefully constructed, then often restarted ("What I mean is..."). The tone is heavy with genuine remorse. Pauses are frequent as the speaker monitors the listener's reaction. The voice may crack if the apology touches deep guilt.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "last page." Every word is weighed because there won't be more. The voice is thick with suppressed emotion — trembling but controlled. Speaking rate slows to an almost ceremonial pace. The speaker memorizes the moment — sensory descriptions increase. Silences are full, not empty. The voice may break on the very last word.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "shockwave." An involuntary gasp or scream at recognition. The voice immediately jumps to maximum pitch and volume — then collapses into sobbing or laughter. Speech is incoherent fragments ("Oh my God! You're—how—I can't—"). The speaker physically moves toward the person, creating Doppler shifts and rustling. Pure, unfiltered emotion.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "excavation." Starts with guarded, careful speech (intellectualizing). Gradually, the voice softens and cracks as defenses lower. Long pauses where the speaker stares into the middle distance. The therapist's prompts are gentle with upward inflection. Breakthrough moments sound like the voice "giving way" — a sudden shift from controlled to raw, followed by tears or silence.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "crack." The speaker has been performing strength, and the mask slips. The transition is audible — the voice abruptly drops from confident to small. Breath becomes shaky. The speaker often laughs nervously immediately after the admission to re-armor. Pitch wavers. Volume falls to barely audible. The hardest sentences in the human repertoire.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "ice." The voice is eerily calm and measured — the opposite of hot anger. Pitch is low, tempo is slow, and every word lands with deliberate weight. There is a satisfaction audible in the control — the speaker has rehearsed this. Smiling while threatening. The lack of emotional leakage is itself terrifying. "I've been waiting to tell you this."
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "break." A stunned, breathless quality. The speaker repeats what they've learned in disbelief ("You... you did what?"). The voice is quiet — shock suppresses volume. Then comes the wave: pitch rises, volume explodes, and the voice cracks. The transition from numb to volcanic happens in seconds. Accusations become fragmented, circling back to the central wound.
ENVI · 22 source scenarios
Environment & Acoustic Space
Source concept: The physical space surrounding the speaker. Determines reverb characteristics, ambient noise floor, and acoustic reflections that color the voice.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for reverb tail length, early reflections, ambient noise type, and proximity effects caused by the environment.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Bright, harsh reverb with strong early reflections off hard parallel surfaces. Flutter echo on sharp consonants. The "singing in the shower" resonance amplifies the voice, making it sound larger than it is.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Acoustically "dead." Fabric absorbs all reflections. The voice sounds dry, flat, and unusually close. No sense of space. Often used as improvised vocal booths.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Warm, moderate absorption. Soft surfaces dampen high frequencies. The voice sounds intimate and natural. Slight low-frequency reinforcement from bed/furniture.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Metallic flutter echo in a tiny space. The voice bounces between parallel steel walls creating a harsh, ringing quality. Mechanical hum and cable noise in background.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Long, bright reverb spiraling upward. Hard surfaces create strong reflections. Footstep echoes compete with speech. Voice sounds grandiose but harsh.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Distinctive "tunnel" reverb. Sound travels linearly with long decay. Footsteps echo rhythmically. Voice gains an eerie, elongated quality.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Massive reverb tail (3-6 seconds). Stone walls create warm, enveloping reflections. Speech intelligibility drops; only slow, deliberate speech cuts through. Organ-like low-frequency resonance.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Harsh, metallic flutter echo off polished floors and high ceilings. The voice sounds thin and echoey. Sneaker squeaks and ball bounces in the background.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Designed acoustics with controlled reverb. The voice projects clearly into the space. Stage monitors may create slight delay. The speaker hears their own voice returning from the back wall.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Industrial echo with machinery hum. High ceilings create long reverb but hard surfaces make it harsh. Safety alarms, forklifts, and ventilation compete with speech.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Moderate reverb dampened by cubicle partitions. HVAC white noise floor. Background murmur of other conversations. The speaker unconsciously lowers volume for privacy.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Zero reflections. The voice sounds small and unsupported, quickly absorbed by open air. Wind is the primary interference. No bass reinforcement.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Scattered absorption from trees and foliage. The voice sounds dampened and "swallowed" by the environment. Bird calls, insects, and rustling leaves in background.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Complex reflection pattern off buildings. Traffic noise (60-80dB) triggers strong Lombard effect. Emergency sirens, construction, and crowd noise compete for attention.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Thin air reduces projection power. Wind is fierce and constant. Dramatic echoes off cliff faces with long delay. The speaker must shout but has less breath to do it.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Rhythmic wave crash provides constant low-frequency background. Open space with sand absorption. Wind exposure. Voice sounds clear but unanchored.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Continuous broadband noise from rain hitting surfaces. Thunder interrupts. The speaker raises volume significantly. Water on face may affect articulation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Gurgling, splashing interference. Voice alternates between clear (above water) and completely muffled (submerged). Gasping for air between phrases.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Voice reverberates inside the helmet cavity. Breathing is amplified and claustrophobic. Radio crackle on transmission. The voice sounds tinny and confined.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Deep, booming reverb with irregular reflections. Dripping water provides rhythmic background. The voice has a primordial, resonant quality. Low frequencies amplified.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Engine drone provides constant low-frequency bed. Road noise (tire hiss) adds white noise. Vibration affects voice stability. Lombard effect engaged.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Intense broadband engine noise (75-85dB). Pressurized air dries the throat. The speaker must lean close and project. Ear pressure affects self-monitoring of volume.
HLTH · 18 source scenarios
Health & Physiological Condition
Source concept: Medical, biological, or physiological conditions of the speaker that alter voice production at the source. These are states of the body itself, not external forces.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for pathological voice qualities - hoarseness, breathiness, nasality, reduced range, tremor, or unusual effort in phonation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "stuffed" voice. Nasal consonants (M, N, NG) become oral (M->B, N->D). Resonance shifts away from nasal cavity. Frequent sniffling, throat clearing, and nose blowing interrupt speech.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "sandpaper" voice. Hoarse, raspy phonation with reduced pitch range. The speaker winces audibly on swallowing. Volume is limited because pushing air past inflamed folds is painful.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Audible wheeze on both inhalation and exhalation. Sentences are extremely short (3-5 words max). The voice sounds "squeezed" through a narrowed passage. Inhaler clicks may be present.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Watery, itchy quality. Frequent sneezing fits. Eyes watering affects facial tension. Nasal drip creates a perpetual "post-nasal" thickness. Antihistamine dryness may also be present.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wavering" voice. Temperature dysregulation causes shivering and sweating. Speech may become confused or hallucinatory. Pitch is unstable. Dry, cracked lips affect bilabials.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "cracked" voice. Mouth is parched--audible sticky lip sounds and tongue clicks. Saliva is insufficient, causing harsh frictional noise on sibilants. Voice fatigues rapidly.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "fading" voice. Hands trembling affects jaw stability. Speech becomes slurred and confused, similar to intoxication. Volume drops. Concentration breaks mid-sentence.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Compressed diaphragm from enlarged uterus. Breathlessness even at rest. Voice sounds effortful. Frequent sighing. Posture-related discomfort audible in shifting and adjusting.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Gasping for adequate oxygen. Speech is slow with frequent deep breaths. Headache pain audible as wincing. Confusion may cause word-finding difficulty.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "novocaine" voice. Half the face is paralyzed. Bilabials (B, P, M) are sloppy. Drooling may occur. The speaker compensates by over-articulating the working side.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Severe articulation restriction. All speech passes through clenched teeth. Consonants requiring jaw movement (wide vowels, bilabials) are almost impossible. Voice sounds muffled and strained.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "fog" voice. Slow processing speed. Long pauses searching for words. Monotone delivery. Volume may be inappropriately loud (difficulty self-monitoring).
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Chronic hoarseness. The voice "breaks" unpredictably between registers. Breathy quality with air escaping through incomplete cord closure. Limited pitch range.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "uncalibrated" voice. Volume is inappropriately loud (cannot self-monitor). Pitch may drift. Articulation is either overly precise (trained) or degraded (untrained). Sibilants are poorly controlled.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "diminishing" voice. Progressive reduction in volume (hypophonia). Monotone pitch. Tremor creates a rhythmic wobble. Articulation becomes increasingly mumbled.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "searching" voice. Long, frustrated pauses. Words come out wrong or garbled. The speaker knows what they want to say but the motor pathway is disrupted. Often accompanied by emotional frustration.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Repetitions, prolongations, and blocks. Silent blocks where the speaker is physically unable to initiate phonation. Tension visible in pitch spikes at moment of release. Secondary behaviors (eye blinks, head nods) may be audible.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Involuntary vocal intrusions: sudden shouts, words, or sounds that interrupt the flow of normal speech. The speaker often continues immediately after the tic as if nothing happened.
GEAR · 14 source scenarios
Face & Head Obstructions
Source concept: Physical barriers, coverings, or equipment on or near the speaker's face and head that mechanically filter, muffle, or distort the voice before it reaches the listener.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for high-frequency damping, resonant cavity effects, breathing restriction, and mechanical noise from the equipment itself.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: High frequencies above 4kHz are attenuated by 3-12dB. Sibilants (S, SH, F) become muddy. Plosives (P, T, K) lose their burst. The speaker unconsciously raises volume 2-3dB to compensate. Breath sounds are amplified inside the mask.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Heavy filtering effect. The voice sounds "behind a wall." Breathing is audibly restricted with a distinct valve-click on exhalation. Speech effort increases dramatically. Very poor intelligibility for quiet speakers.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "Darth Vader" effect. Voice passes through a chemical filter, creating extreme muffling. Breathing sounds mechanical and menacing. The internal cavity creates a resonant, hollow quality. Communication requires near-shouting.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Plastic cup over nose and mouth dampens mid-frequencies. Constant hissing of oxygen flow. The voice sounds distant and "in a fishbowl." Speaker must project forcefully.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Voice reverberates inside the padded cavity. Visor creates a narrow acoustic aperture. Wind noise at speed makes speech nearly impossible. At rest, the voice sounds boomy and enclosed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Similar to gas mask but with added radio transmission artifacts--compression, limited bandwidth, static. Breathing is the dominant sound inside the helmet. The voice sounds tinny and robotic.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Metal resonance cavity. The voice rings metallically. The narrow eye slit acts as the only acoustic opening, creating a directional, muffled output. Clanking of the visor punctuates speech.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Minimal voice distortion but hard plastic reflects sound downward. Construction site noise in background. Speaker shouts. The hat rim creates a slight "cupping" of the voice.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Fabric dampens all frequencies proportionally. Breath becomes warm and humid against the face, creating moist mouth sounds. The voice sounds muffled but retains more clarity than hard masks.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Immediate, dramatic muffling. The hand acts as a low-pass filter. Often associated with shock or trying to stay quiet. Consonants that require lip visibility (labials) are severely impacted.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Extreme muffling--the voice is almost entirely absorbed. Only the loudest, lowest frequencies escape. Used when crying, screaming into a pillow, or lying face-down in bed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Subtle high-frequency damping. Less severe than a surgical mask because the fabric hangs loosely. The voice retains most characteristics but sounds slightly "filtered" to the listener.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Narrow bandwidth (300-3400Hz) eliminates bass warmth and treble air. Compression squashes dynamics. The "kkhht" of the PTT button bookends every transmission. "Over" protocol structures turn-taking.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Extreme compression and distortion. The voice is clipped, harsh, and unnaturally loud. Feedback squeals punctuate pauses. All subtlety and nuance is destroyed in favor of raw volume.
CLMT · 10 source scenarios
Climate & Atmospheric Conditions
Source concept: Weather, temperature, and atmospheric conditions that the speaker is physically enduring. These affect muscle tension, breathing patterns, and airway moisture.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for involuntary muscle tension (shivering, panting), changes in breath moisture, and environmental noise signatures.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "lockjaw." Facial muscles are numb and rigid. Jaw barely opens. Vowels are centralized ("uh" quality) because the tongue is sluggish. Visible breath vapor may cause slight acoustic distortion close to the mouth.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wilted" voice. Dehydration dries the vocal folds. Panting replaces normal breathing. Speech is lethargic, slow, and broken by heavy exhalations. Sweat drips may be audible.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Airway is saturated with moisture. The voice sounds "wet" and heavy. Breathing is deep but unsatisfying. Sweat and moisture create "slippery" mouth sounds.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Wind buffets the microphone and face. The speaker turns away from the wind to breathe, creating directional shifts. Volume is raised to compete. Words are "torn away" before they reach the listener.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Combines freezing cold (lockjaw) with wind noise and disorientation. The speaker shouts into the void. Snow dampens reflections, making the voice sound swallowed by the environment.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Speaker breathes through fabric or hand to filter particles. Coughing interrupts. The voice sounds muffled and desperate. Grit in the teeth affects sibilants.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Reduced oxygen makes every sentence an effort. Deep gasping breaths between short phrases. The voice lacks its usual power and projection. Light-headedness may cause slurring.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "char." Irritated airways cause raspy, coughing speech. Eyes watering and burning affects facial tension. Urgency in voice as survival instinct kicks in. Carbon monoxide may cause confusion.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Water streaming down the face enters the mouth. The speaker sputters. Voice competes with the roar of heavy rainfall. Sentences are shouted in gaps between thunder.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Psychologically oppressive silence. Sound travels strangely--absorbed in some directions, amplified in others. The speaker often speaks louder than necessary, uncertain if they are being heard.
SUBST · 12 source scenarios
Substance & Chemical Influence
Source concept: Ingested, inhaled, or injected substances that alter neuromuscular control, cognitive function, or arousal state, thereby changing voice production.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for motor control degradation, tempo changes, volume dysregulation, and emotional volatility not explained by context.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wired" voice. Speech rate increases 15-25%. Pitch baseline rises slightly. Articulation is sharp but jittery. The speaker may talk over others or fail to pause. Restless energy audible in rapid breathing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "machine gun." Extremely rapid, pressured speech. Jaw clenching (bruxism) distorts consonants. Dry mouth creates sticky articulation sounds. Emotional intensity is disproportionate to content.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: Nasal damage creates audible sniffing and congestion. Speech is grandiose, confident, and fast. Volume is too loud. The speaker interrupts constantly. Numbed throat affects swallowing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "survival" voice. Pitch jumps. Time perception warps--speech is fast but feels slow to the speaker. Tunnel-vision focus makes speech extremely direct and stripped of social niceties.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "loosened" voice. Social inhibitions drop. Laughter comes easier. Slight volume increase. Very subtle slurring on complex consonant clusters. Emotional range widens.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wreck." Severe slurring--sibilants smear, plosives lose their stop. Volume swings wildly. Emotional volatility (crying to laughing). Balance issues cause the voice to sway with the body.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "nod." Extremely slow speech with long pauses. Volume drops to near-whisper. The speaker trails off mid-sentence as consciousness fades. Voice is breathy and lacks any tension or attack.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "flatline." Emotional affect is completely blunted. Speech is coherent but robotically calm. No excitement, no fear, no urgency. Muscles are relaxed, creating slightly mushy articulation.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "drift." Slower speech rate with frequent "spacing out" pauses. Dry mouth (cottonmouth) creates sticky lip sounds. Giggly. Thought patterns meander. Volume is usually lower than baseline.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wonder." Speech becomes philosophical and tangential. Long pauses for overwhelming sensory experiences. Pitch range expands dramatically. The speaker may laugh, cry, or fall silent in rapid succession.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "emergence." Confused, slurred, childlike speech. Volume and pitch are uncontrolled. The speaker may say things they would normally filter. Motor control returns gradually--early speech is nearly unintelligible.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "gravel." Permanent vocal fold thickening from years of irritation. Lowered pitch baseline. Raspy, rough quality. Frequent throat clearing. Reduced pitch range. Morning voice is especially damaged.
FATG · 19 source scenarios
Fatigue, Sleep & Energy State
Source concept: The speaker's current energy level, sleep status, and recovery state. These determine the baseline "fuel" available for voice production.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for reduced volume, slower tempo, pitch dropping, vocal fry increase, trailing sentences, and overall "dimming" of the voice.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "gravel bed." Vocal folds are swollen from overnight fluid redistribution. Pitch is at its lowest point of the day. Extreme vocal fry. Articulation is sluggish. The voice "warms up" over 15-30 minutes.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "zombie." Microsleep pauses where the speaker blanks out mid-word. Slurred articulation resembling mild intoxication. Flat affect. The voice sounds hollow and lifeless. Yawning interrupts frequently.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "descent." Sentences start at normal pace but slow dramatically, trailing into mumbles. Volume decreases progressively. Words merge together. The speaker may jerk awake and restart mid-thought.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "fog." Confused, disoriented quality. The speaker doesn't know what time it is. Voice is thick and heavy. Responses are delayed. Cognitive function is worse than pre-nap for 10-20 minutes.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "hollow." Perpetual low energy. No vocal "peaks"--the dynamic range is compressed. The voice has an anxious, tense quality underlying the exhaustion. Dark circles audible in the tone.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "glow." Voice is energized, open, and clear. Breathing is still elevated but controlled. Confidence and positivity leak into tone. Articulation is crisp.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "empty tank." Cannot project. Every word costs effort. Long recovery breaths between phrases. The voice sounds like it is being squeezed from a nearly empty tube.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "manic." An artificial, slightly delirious energy spike. Speech becomes fast and giggly. The voice has a "punchy" quality that feels unsustainable. Laughter comes too easily.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "center." Extremely slow, deliberate speech. Perfect breath control. Voice is soft but clear. Zero tension in the throat. Each word feels intentionally placed.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "melt." Languid, unhurried speech. Muscles are so relaxed that articulation is loose. The voice sounds warm and satisfied. No urgency whatsoever.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "disconnect." The voice is at odds with the environment--exhausted at noon, wired at midnight. Cognitive fog causes word-finding difficulty. Yawning at inappropriate times.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wall." Abrupt energy drop after stimulant wears off. Speech slows noticeably. Irritability enters the tone. The speaker sounds deflated and resentful.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "bonk." A sudden, cliff-edge energy drop during sustained exertion (marathon mile 20, hour 3 of a hike). The voice was functional moments ago and now sounds hollow, slurred, and confused — resembling hypoglycemia. Speech becomes monosyllabic. The speaker may become emotionally volatile (crying for no reason). Breathing is inefficient and labored.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "payback." Immediately after max-effort exertion. Breathing is violent, gasping, and completely involuntary — it hijacks the vocal system. The speaker bends over (compressed chest), hands on knees. Speech is impossible for 30-60 seconds. First words come out as breathy, shaky whispers between heaving breaths. Nausea may be audible (gagging, spitting).
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wilt." Dehydration dries the vocal folds. Panting replaces normal breathing. The voice is weak, confused, and may slur (mimicking intoxication). Core temperature elevation causes dizziness — the speaker sounds disoriented. Volume drops because the body prioritizes cooling over communication. Speech rate slows to a crawl.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "quake." The body's muscles are in visible tremor — this transmits directly to the voice as a fast, involuntary vibrato. Jaw and neck muscles shake, destabilizing articulation. The speaker sounds like they're standing on a vibrating platform. Every exhale carries a tiny, involuntary whimper. Core instability makes the voice sound fundamentally unreliable.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "comedown." After a fight, accident, or emergency. Adrenaline withdrawal causes trembling, nausea, and emotional flooding. The voice is shaky and tearful even if the speaker isn't sad. Hands are shaking (audible if holding objects). Speech is rapid and repetitive as the brain replays the event. Sudden emotional outbursts (laughing, crying) without warning.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "unraveling." Beyond mere tiredness — the voice enters a hallucinatory, detached quality. Sentences begin rationally and derail into nonsense. The speaker may argue with things that aren't there. Micro-sleeps create sudden silences. Emotional regulation is destroyed — inappropriate laughter, sudden rage, paranoia. The voice sounds like a system failing.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "aftermath." The speaker has exhausted their tears. The voice is hoarse and raw from prolonged crying. Nasal congestion is severe, turning all nasal consonants oral. The eyes are swollen, affecting facial resonance. A fragile, emptied-out quality — the speaker is calm not because they feel better but because they have nothing left to expel.
PAIN · 12 source scenarios
Pain & Physical Distress
Source concept: The type, intensity, and location of pain the speaker is currently experiencing. Pain hijacks the voice by triggering involuntary protective responses.
Historical source instruction, not the Humaneness inference rule: Listen for sudden gasps, guarded breathing, pitch spikes at onset of pain, reduced volume to minimize physical movement, and overall vocal tension.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "spike." An involuntary yelp or sharp intake of breath at the moment of injury. Immediately followed by guarded, tense speech with held breath. Pitch jumps dramatically at onset then settles into a strained baseline.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "hiss." Immediate sharp inhalation through clenched teeth ("sssss"). The voice becomes urgent and panicked. The speaker instinctively holds the affected area, reducing one arm's gestures.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "crumple." A sudden expulsion of air (grunt or "oof") as the diaphragm is impacted. Speech immediately after is breathless and shaky. If to the head, confusion and slurring follow.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "crest." Pain arrives in predictable waves. Speech is normal between contractions, then rapidly deteriorates into moaning, grunting, or screaming at the peak, then gradually returns to coherence.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "wince." A constant low-level tension in the voice. Periodic sharp intakes of breath when the speaker shifts position. Speech is weary and colored by long-suffering. Sighing is frequent.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "whisper of necessity." The speaker minimizes all sound because noise exacerbates the pain. Volume is drastically reduced. Light sensitivity causes squinting which tightens the face. The voice sounds fragile.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "guard." The speaker avoids opening the mouth fully. One-sided chewing of words. Cold air intake through the mouth causes wincing. Sibilants may be avoided because air flow over the tooth hurts.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "curl." The speaker doubles over, compressing the rib cage. Breathing becomes shallow and guarded. Voice is directed downward. Groaning undertone on sustained vowels.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "shock." Initial scream followed by controlled, shaky breathing. The speaker becomes very still to avoid movement. Voice trembles. Adrenaline may temporarily mask the worst, creating an eerie calm before the pain fully registers.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "fade." Progressive weakening as blood loss and shock set in. Voice starts panicked and energized, then gradually loses projection and coherence. Cold sweat and pallor audible as shivering onset.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "seize." Sudden involuntary interruption of speech as the muscle locks. A sharp, strangled sound. The speaker may curse reflexively. Speech resumes once the spasm passes but remains tense and guarded.
Source acoustic proposal, unvalidated: The "break." Voice cycles between screaming, sobbing, and near-silence (shock). All social masking is destroyed. Raw, primal vocalizations replace language. Between episodes, the voice is destroyed--hoarse, breathy, and broken.
TASK · proposed facet
Performance or communication task
Several Edge Cases specify what kind of performance or communication is requested, rather than a bodily circumstance. These task facets preserve those instructions without inventing a situation or duplicating a VoiceNet acoustic scale.
X-TASK-display_regulation
Deliberate display / expression regulation
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names deliberate display / expression regulation.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 19 records. Examples: EDGE-054, EDGE-056, EDGE-076.
X-TASK-delivery_style
Explicit delivery-style task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names explicit delivery-style task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 16 records. Examples: SIT-TRGT-target_broadcaster, EDGE-164, EDGE-175.
X-TASK-vocal_technique
Deliberate vocal-production technique
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names deliberate vocal-production technique.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 5 records. Examples: EDGE-171, EDGE-240, EDGE-241.
X-TASK-singing
Singing / melodic task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names singing / melodic task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 6 records. Examples: EDGE-228, EDGE-229, EDGE-230.
X-TASK-vocal_event
Non-speech vocal event task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names non-speech vocal event task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 11 records. Examples: SIT-ACTV-moaning_sustained, EDGE-156, EDGE-219.
X-TASK-body_sound
Body-generated sound task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names body-generated sound task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 1 records. Examples: EDGE-226.
X-TASK-language_mediation
Language formulation / mediation task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names language formulation / mediation task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 5 records. Examples: EDGE-201, EDGE-202, EDGE-203.
X-TASK-accent_adjustment
Accent accommodation / imitation
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names accent accommodation / imitation.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 3 records. Examples: EDGE-204, EDGE-218, EDGE-245.
X-TASK-identity_voice
Authored vocal-identity presentation
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names authored vocal-identity presentation.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 4 records. Examples: SIT-HUMX-humx_aged_decades, EDGE-172, EDGE-205.
X-TASK-text_relation
Read / memorised / improvised text relation
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names read / memorised / improvised text relation.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 9 records. Examples: SIT-HUMX-humx_duress_script, EDGE-160, EDGE-163.
X-TASK-articulation
Explicit fluency / articulation challenge
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names explicit fluency / articulation challenge.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 8 records. Examples: SIT-HLTH-hlth_stuttering_chronic, EDGE-080, EDGE-232.
X-TASK-ritual_utterance
Ritual / prayer / oath task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names ritual / prayer / oath task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 5 records. Examples: SIT-POSE-kneeling_upright, SIT-TRGT-target_divine_prayer, EDGE-255.
X-TASK-fictional_nonhuman
Fictional non-human / altered-identity task
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names fictional non-human / altered-identity task.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 4 records. Examples: SIT-HUMX-humx_possession_nonhuman, SIT-HUMX-humx_creature_adr, EDGE-257.
X-TASK-audience_exchange
Performance-audience interaction
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names performance-audience interaction.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 3 records. Examples: EDGE-246, EDGE-247, EDGE-259.
X-TASK-performance_calibration
Deliberate intensity / authenticity comparison
Use only when the source or authored scene explicitly names deliberate intensity / authenticity comparison.
Assigned in this crosswalk: 5 records. Examples: EDGE-121, EDGE-128, EDGE-129.
Inherited additions
The 62 HUMX records keep their identity
These records were already part of the supplied PerformanceNet master, beyond the 289 primary scenarios. Their HUMX IDs and all detailed text are preserved. The links below open those full records; the domain correspondences are editorial proposals in this integration, not retroactive changes to the LAION source.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH); Environment & Acoustic Space (ENVI). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Pain & Physical Distress (PAIN); Climate & Atmospheric Conditions (CLMT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Pain & Physical Distress (PAIN); Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Substance & Chemical Influence (SUBST); Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Body Posture & Gravitational Alignment (POSE). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Body Posture & Gravitational Alignment (POSE). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Substance & Chemical Influence (SUBST). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Substance & Chemical Influence (SUBST). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Substance & Chemical Influence (SUBST); Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Substance & Chemical Influence (SUBST); Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Face & Head Obstructions (GEAR). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: No base domain assigned. Mapping: Proposed facet only.
Compatible context: Fatigue, Sleep & Energy State (FATG); Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Broad source analogue.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Pain & Physical Distress (PAIN); Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Broad source analogue.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Broad source analogue.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH); Face & Head Obstructions (GEAR). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH); Face & Head Obstructions (GEAR). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH); Face & Head Obstructions (GEAR). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Broad source analogue.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Physical Activity & Dynamic Load (ACTV); Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH); Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH); Speaking Target & Projection (TRGT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Health & Physiological Condition (HLTH). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Substance & Chemical Influence (SUBST); Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Compatible domain only.
Compatible context: Social Situation & Context (SOCT). Mapping: Broad source analogue.
Compatible context: No base domain assigned. Mapping: Proposed facet only.
Compatible context: No base domain assigned. Mapping: Proposed facet only.
Compatible context: No base domain assigned. Mapping: Proposed facet only.