Voice Quality Symbols (VoQS) are a set of phonetic symbols used for voice quality, for example when transcribing disordered speech.
VoQS symbols are normally combined with curly braces that span a section of speech, just as with prosody notation in the extended IPA. The symbols may be modified with a digit to convey relative degree of the quality. For example, ⟨V!⟩ is used for harsh voice, and {3V! ... 3V!} indicates that the intervening speech is very harsh. ⟨L̞⟩ indicates a lowered larynx, so {L̞1V! ... 1V!L̞} indicates that the intervening speech is less harsh with a lowered larynx.
VoQS use mostly IPA or extended IPA diacritics on capital letters for the element being modified: V for 'voice', L for 'larynx', J for 'jaw'. Degree is marked 1 for slight, 2 for moderate, and 3 for extreme.
The following combinations of letters and diacritics are used. They indicate an airstream mechanism, phonation or secondary articulation across a stretch of speech. For example, 'palatalized voice' indicates palatalization of the segment of speech spanned by the braces.
A little kid goes from
size one to size two
still we have same job
what is it that we do
all the change that's going on
in that tiny mind
still we're indecisive,
still we're wasting time
and there's cause, cause,
cause to be alarmed
who feeds the dove
who gives the world its charm
cause, cause, cause to be alarmed
we are pumped up fantasies
until the world's disarmed
a little hungry face
deserved more than roots to chew
they will erupt "enough's enough"
they'll lay the blame on you
and these perceiving minds observe
to count the final score
no treasure chest, to reinvest
just a bunch of whores
and there is cause, cause,
cause to be alarmed
no making love
until the world's disarmed
cause, cause, cause to be alarmed
a frigid little fantasy
until the world's disarmed
fly bird high bird
a love bird got shot
heard the lead bird's a dead bird
a new mind goes from birth,
to full view to old fool
still we have the same face
just what do we achieve?
all these minds that think alike
do damage to the strain
where we stand the very spot
we will not stand again
and there is cause, cause,
cause to be alarmed
who feeds the dove
who gives the world its charm
cause, cause, cause to be alarmed
we are pumped up fantasies
until the world is disarmed
fly bird high bird
go see bird and tell bird
that a love bird got shot,