| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,890,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥2,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000)
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| Research Abstract |
One of the most difficult English pronunciation for Japanese, is the /r/ sound.
So far only ways for learners to see the articulatory movement is the front and the side of the face. However, in this research, we could show the front and back parts of the tongue tip, a narrow groove of the tongue, relation with upper palate and when drop the tongue after finishing the /r/ sound, learners can perceive its speed.
It is very important to show the articulatory movement in 3D animation. In 2006, professors and associate professors of the university of Texas at Austin discussed this project ; however, we found there is still problem in using software, POSER which enable us the roundness of the lips though it made us possible to the front of the face and the tongue movement. After that, I started looking for some programmers in Japan who will satisfy my expected patterns.
The new programmers worked on tongue, mouth and muscle movement of articulatory movement inside of the mouth. We created a DVD by recording sounds, modeling, creating animation, rendering, editing movie data.
The four words which consists the /r/ sound will appear in the 3D animation procedures.
1)On the left side of the screen, a virtual lady is exhibited and on the left side of the screen shows the front of the mouth.
2) the front and back of the mouth, before pronouncing, the both lips are closed and the tongue touches the alveolar ridge.
3) the place of the /r/ sound : from the front, the lips are rounded and the tip of the tongue is flat and touches little behind of the alveolar ridge. Only the central part of the tongue makes a narrow groove.
4) The tongue moves slowly and make the /r/ sound and then moves to the next vowel.
5) When the /r/ sound is finished, both lips are closed, and from the side.
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