Emotions in short vowel segments of continuous speech were analysed using inverse filtering and a recently developed glottal flow parameter, the normalised amplitude quotient (NAQ). Simulated emotion portrayals were produced by 9 professional stage actors. Separated /a:/ vowel segments were inverse filtered and parameterized using NAQ. Statistical analyses showed significant differences among most of the emotions studied. Results also demonstrated clear gender differences. Inverse filtering, together with NAQ, was shown to be a promising method for the analysis of emotional content in continuous speech.