Italians were captivated by a type of male singer

在 16 世紀中葉

whose incredible range contained notes

意大利人被一種男歌手迷住了

previously thought impossible for adult men.

那種男歌手的音域廣闊，包含的音高

However, this gift came at a high price.

先前是一般成年男性不可能達到的

To prevent their voices from breaking,

但是，這天賦有一個很高的代價

these singers had been castrated before puberty,

要防止他們變聲

halting the hormonal processes that would deepen their voices.

這些歌手在青春期前被閹割

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

來停止荷爾蒙的變化， 以免他們的聲線變低沉

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

被稱為「閹伶」，他們輕輕的、 天使般的聲音在整個歐洲很有名

Though stunting vocal growth can produce an extraordinary musical range,

直到這個殘酷的程序， 在 19 世紀被禁止

naturally developing voices are already capable of incredible variety.

雖然阻止聲帶的成長， 可以產生一個非凡廣闊的音域

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

但自然發展的聲音， 已經具有極多的可能性

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

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

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

那究竟我們的喉部是怎樣運作？ 是甚麼令聲線變化？

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

說話的聲音， 是許多解剖學上可以解釋到的結果

and the size of our larynxes.

但主要取決於年齡和聲帶的健康

The larynx is a complex system of muscle and cartilage

和喉部的大小

that supports and moves the vocal cords,

喉部是個複雜的肌肉和軟骨系統

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

支撐和移動聲帶

Strung between the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages,

或者更準確的稱呼是「聲帶褶皺」

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

在甲狀腺和杓狀軟骨之間拉扯

the tube that carries air through the throat.

這兩塊肌肉形成一個彈性窗簾 來打開和關閉氣管

The folds are apart when we're breathing,

那個把空氣帶到整個喉嚨的管道

but when we speak, they slam shut.

當我們呼吸時，聲帶是分開的

Our lungs push air against the closed folds,

但當我們說話時，它們就閉上

blowing them open and vibrating the tissue to produce sound.

我們的肺部向關閉的聲帶推動空氣

Unlike the deliberate focus required for playing an external instrument,

將它們吹開，並振動肌肉組織， 產生聲音

we effortlessly change notes as we speak.

與演奏樂器時需要刻意專注不同

By pushing air faster or slower,

藉由空氣推進的快慢

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.

就形成了我們聲音的音高和聲量

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.

快速和小的振動， 創造高音、安靜的音調

Finally, by moving the laryngeal muscles between the cartilages,

而緩慢、大的振動 產生深沉、咆哮般的隆隆響聲

we can stretch and contract those folds

最後，在軟骨之間移動喉部肌肉

to intuitively play our internal instruments.

我們可以伸展和收縮聲帶

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

來自然地演奏我們與生俱來的樂器

but as you age, your larynx ages too.

我們這說話的過程始終如一

During puberty, the first major shift starts,

但隨著年齡增長，喉部也會老化

as your voice begins to deepen.

青春期時開始第一次重大的轉變

This happens when your larynx grows in size,

你的聲音開始加沉

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

長大的喉部會延長聲帶

These longer folds have slower, larger vibrations,

開闢更大的振動空間

which result in a lower baseline pitch.

這些較長的聲帶， 振動得較慢，幅度較大

This growth is especially dramatic in many males,

導致較低的底音

whose high testosterone levels lead first to voice cracks,

這種聲帶的增長， 在許多男性中特別明顯

and then to deeper, more booming voices,

其高水平的睾丸激素先導致破聲

and laryngeal protrusions called Adam's apples.

然後是更沉、更響的聲音

Another vocal development during puberty

和喉部突起，叫喉核

occurs when the homogenous tissue covering the folds

另一個在青春期時的聲音發展

specializes into three distinct functional layers:

發生於當覆蓋聲帶的組織

a central muscle,

分成三層，各自負責不同的功能：

a layer of stiff collagen wrapped in stretchy elastin fibers,

中央肌肉

and an outer layer of mucus membrane.

一層堅硬的膠原蛋白， 包裹在富彈性的蛋白纖維中

These layers add nuance and depth to the voice,

和粘膜外層

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

這些分層增加了聲音的層次和深度

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

賦予它獨特的音色， 有別於青春期前的音調

for about 50 years.

青春期後，大多數人的聲音

But we all use our voices differently,

大約五十年會維持不變

and eventually we experience the symptoms associated with aging larynxes,

但我們都以不同的方式 使用自己的聲音

known as presbyphonia.

最後，我們會體驗到 與喉部老化相關的症狀

First, the collagen in our folds stiffens

稱為 presbyphonia

and the surrounding elastin fibers atrophy and decay.

我們聲帶中的膠原蛋白先硬化

This decreased flexibility increases the pitch of older voices.

周圍富彈性的蛋白纖維萎縮和衰弱

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

降低靈活性會提高老人的聲線

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

但對於經歷過更年期 荷爾蒙變化的人來說

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

較高的音調，被腫脹的聲帶抵消

All these symptoms are further complicated

聲帶體積的增加減慢振動的速度

by having fewer healthy laryngeal nerve endings,

導致更深沉的聲音

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

所有這些症狀，都會進一步更複雜化

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

因喉部健康的神經末梢減少

that can affect your voice.

這減弱了肌肉的控制能力， 並導致氣喘似的，或粗啞的聲音

But when kept in good condition,

最終，這些解剖學上解釋到的變化

your voice box is a finely tuned instrument,

只是影響聲音的其中一些因素

capable of operatic arias,

但若能夠保持良好狀態

moody monologues,

你的喉部是一個精密調節過的樂器

and stirring speeches.

能夠成就歌劇裡的詠嘆調