Synthesized speech intelligibility and persuasion: Speech rate and non-native listeners

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Jones ◽  
Lynn Berry ◽  
Catherine Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Synthesized Speech

Context, Repetition and Synthesized Speech Intelligibility

1987 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 961-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica A. Merva ◽  
Beverly H. Williges
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Synthetic Speech ◽  
Context Information ◽  
Subjective Ratings ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Situational Context ◽  
Synthesized Speech ◽  
Transcription Error

Two studies were conducted to explore the effects of various parameters on rule-based synthetic speech intelligibility. Experiment I examined the effect of situational context clues and speech rate on synthesized speech intelligibility. Subjects who received pragmatic context information prior to each message had transcription error rates 50% lower than those who received no context information. Speech rates of 250 words per minute (wpm) yielded significantly more transcription errors than rates of 180 wpm. In Experiment II, the effects of speech rate, message repetition, and location of information in a message were examined. Transcription accuracy was best for messages spoken at 150 or 180 wpm and for messages repeated either twice or three times. Words at the end of messages were transcribed more accurately than words at the beginning of messages. Subjective ratings indicated that subjects were aware of errors when incorrectly transcribing a message even though no feedback was provided.

Implementing Speech Supplementation Strategies

2003 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 462-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine C. Hustad ◽  
Tabitha Jones ◽  
Suzanne Dailey
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Clinical Efficacy ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Speech Signal ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Speech Control

A growing body of experimental research suggests that speech supplementation strategies can markedly increase speech intelligibility for individuals with dysarthria (D. Beukelman & K. Yorkston, 1977; E. Crow & P. Enderby, 1989; L. Hunter, T. Pring, & S. Martin, 1991; K. C. Hustad & D. R. Beukelman, 2001). However, studies in which speech supplementation strategies were actually implemented by speakers with dysarthria are limited, leaving their clinical efficacy unknown. The present study compared intelligibility and speech rate differences following speaker implementation of 3 strategies (topic, alphabet, and combined topic and alphabet supplementation) and a habitual (noncued) speech control condition for 5 speakers with severe dysarthria. Results revealed that combined cues and alphabet cues yielded significantly higher intelligibility scores and slower speech rates than topic cues and noncued speech. Overall, topic cues and noncued speech did not differ from one another with regard to intelligibility or speech rate. Combined cues and alphabet cues did not differ from one another with regard to intelligibility; however, speech rate was significantly different between the 2 strategies. Individual differences among speakers were generally consistent with group findings. Results were somewhat different from previous research in which strategies were experimentally superimposed on the habitual speech signal. However, findings provide evidence that alphabet cues and combined cues can have an important effect on intelligibility for speakers with severe dysarthria.

Communication Problems in Multiple Sclerosis: 9-Year Follow-Up

2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 130-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per-Anders Bringfelt ◽  
Lena Hartelius ◽  
Björn Runmarker
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
History Of

The speech of 18 individuals with a long history of multiple sclerosis (MS), assessed 9–10 years earlier, was reinvestigated. The individuals were also interviewed about their experiences of living with MS and how they have handled communication problems and symptoms in general. Findings were related to the degree of neurological deficit. The results showed that neurological deficits increased and certain speech parameters (sustained vowel phonation and speech rate) decreased significantly during this period. Speech intelligibility was not significantly changed (>90% at follow-up). Consequently, speech problems were generally mild. Nevertheless, analysis of the interviews showed that participation in communication and interpersonal relationships was affected by other disease-related (mobility, vision, cognition, and fatigue) and age-related problems. Strategies to reduce the effect of communication and disease-related problems were found to be active rather than adjustment or avoidance, both in specific situations and as an approach to life. In conclusion, the importance of a broader perspective on communication difficulties and a more individual approach to intervention should be emphasized, taking the patient's perceived barriers and self-generated strategies into account.

Synthesized speech intelligibility among native speakers and non-native speakers of English

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Mayasari Alamsaputra ◽  
Kathryn J. Kohnert ◽  
Benjamin Munson ◽  
Joe Reichle
Keyword(s):  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Synthesized Speech ◽  
Native Speakers Of English

Effects of Age, Speech Rate, and Type of Test on Temporal Auditory Processing

1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1192-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy E. Vaughan ◽  
Tomasz Letowski
Keyword(s):  
Age Differences ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Speech Intelligibility ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Discourse Comprehension ◽  
Time Compression ◽  
Connected Discourse ◽  
Temporal Aspects ◽  
Cognitive Slowing ◽  
Rate Of Speech

Cognitive slowing that accompanies aging may be reflected in temporal aspects of auditory processing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of age, type of test, and rate of speech on temporal auditory processing. Listeners were divided into three groups: young (25- to 35-year-olds), middle aged (45- to 55-year-olds), and older (65- to 75-year-olds). A method of time compression known as Synchronized Overlap Add (SOLA) was used to increase the rate of speech. This method provides a high-quality speech signal and limits the distortions that may confound the temporal effects on time-compressed tests of speech intelligibility. Listeners performed four speech understanding tasks: sentence repetition, sentence intelligibility rating, connected discourse intelligibility rating, and connected discourse comprehension question and answers at three timecompression rates (60%, 70%, and 80%). Although the older group performed more poorly on all tests, only the connected discourse intelligibility rating test was sensitive to age differences among all three groups. This difference did not appear to increase with rate increases but was present only at the 70% compression rate. In addition, variability was especially high in the oldest group of participants.

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