The Frequency Range of “The Ling Six Sounds” in Standard Chinese

“The Ling Six Sounds” are a range of speech sounds encompassing the speech frequencies that are widely used clinically to verify the effectiveness of hearing aid fitting in children. This study focused on the spectral features of the six sounds in Standard Chinese. We examined the frequency range of /m, u, a, i, ʂ, s/ as well as three consonants in syllables, i.e., /m(o)/, /ʂ(ʅ)/, and /s(ɿ)/. We presented the frequency distribution of these sounds. Based on this, we further proposed guidelines to improve “the Ling Six-Sound Test” regarding tones in Standard Chinese. We also suggested further studies in other dialects/languages spoken in China with regard to their phonological specifics.