Method and apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech

• US 6,358,055 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syracuse Language Systems
• Original Assignee: Syracuse Language Systems
• Inventors: Rothenberg, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/587,800
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/156-158, 434/169, 434/185, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/236, 434/365, 381/48-53, 381/41-43, 704/200, 704/206, 704/257, 704/268, 704/277
• US Class Current: 434/185
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/04 Speaking with audible presentation of the material to be studied G09B5/04

Abstract

A system and apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech senses and extracts prosodic or suprasegmental variables of a user'"'"'s speech segment. Prosodic features of speech include pitch and loudness variations, as opposed to articulatory or sequential features of speech which are the primary determinants of phoneme variations. Once prosodic variables have been extracted from a speech segment, the variables are used to modulate a quasiperiodic waveform such as a sinusoid, a pulse-train, or a synthesized vowel-like waveform, or the parameters can be used to modulate a random-noise-like waveform. A modulated waveform can be played acoustically, and the user can hear the variation of the prosodic parameters without interference from the articulatory parameters of a complete waveform. This auditory feedback can be combined with visual feedback of the speech segment to teach proper prosodic speech formation. Auditory feedback for teaching prosodic features can also be formed without a modulation process by removing articulatory information from a speech segment, and non-acoustic measures sensors of prosodic feature, such as an electroglottograph, can also be employed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech comprising:

a sensor having a signal sensor output;

a prosodic variable extractor having a signal input connected to said signal senor output of said sensor and having an output signal representing a prosodic feature of said signal sensor output;

an audio transducer, connected to an output of the signal generator; and

wherein the prosodic variable extractor includes an articulatory variation remover.

2. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech comprising:

a sensor having a signal sensor output;

a segment storage and replay device having a signal input connected to said signal sensor output of said sensor and having a signal segment storage and replay output;

a prosodic variable extractor having a signal input connected to said signal segment storage and replay output said segment storage and replay device and having an output signal representing a prosodic feature of said signal segment storage and replay device output;

a waveform generator and modulator, connected to an output of the extractor; and

an audio transducer, connected to an output of the waveform generator and modulator.

3. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim 2, further comprising:

a video display, connected to an output of the extractor.

4. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim, 2, wherein the extractor is also connected to an output of the sensor.

5. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim 2, wherein the audio transducer is also connected to an output of the segment storage and replay device.

6. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech comprising:

a sensor having a signal sensor output;

a segment storage and replay device having a signal input connected to said signal sensor output of said sensor and having a signal segment storage and replay output;

a prosodic variable extractor having a signal input connected to said signal segment storage and replay output said segment storage and replay device and having an output signal representing a prosodic feature of said signal segment storage and replay device output;

an acoustic waveform filter, connected to an output of the extractor; and

an audio transducer, connected to an output of the acoustic waveform filter.

7. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim 6, wherein the extractor comprises an articulatory variation remover.

8. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim 6, wherein the audio transducer is also connected to an output of the segment storage and replay device.

9. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim 6, further comprising:

a video display, connected to an output of the extractor.

10. An apparatus for teaching prosodic features of speech according to claim 6, wherein the extractor is also connected to an output of the sensor.