ABSTRACT
This study analyzes F0 (pitch) development in Cantonese pre-adolescent children, male and female, aged 4–12 years. The main findings include: (i) a progressive F0 decrease as age increases, (ii) a large F0 drop at age 12 in male children, indicating the onset of the adolescent voice change, (iii) no significant F0 difference between female children at age 12 and female adults, indicating the end of the female adolescent voice change, and (iv) no apparent gender distinction in voice until age 12. The similarity between Cantonese and English in F0 developmental data suggests a possible universal of pitch development in children.
