Proposal of a method of improving Chinese pronunciation and construction and verification of a pronunciation learning system based on the method

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K02947
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Chen Shumei 東京工科大学, 教養学環, 教授 (50296737)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 大野 澄雄 東京工科大学, コンピュータサイエンス学部, 教授 (80256677) ; しゃ 錦華 東京工科大学, 工学部, 教授 (10257264) ; 亀田 弘之 東京工科大学, コンピュータサイエンス学部, 教授 (00194994)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 中国語学習 / 発音 / 音声の質 / 可視化 / 学習システム / 発音改善法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to build a Chinese pronunciation learning system that allows students to enjoy learning by visualizing the "pronunciation quality" of tones, vowels, and consonants, which are the basis of learning Chinese pronunciation. The features of this study are that the mechanism of Chinese pronunciation is visually understood, that it is able to intuitively confirm the difference between the students’ pronunciation and the pronunciation of a standard model, and that the pronunciation can be corrected and improved by students themselves. As planned, we started to build a system that visualizes the production of vowels as well as retroflex and lingual consonants. The system was gradually completed by repeating experiments. It was actually used in a 2019 Chinese beginner's class, Tokyo University of Technology. The results verified the effectiveness and usability of this study.

Free Research Field

中国語、中国語教育

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

中国語の学習者にとって、大きな壁とされている中国語の発音について、音声の質を分析し、音声信号の声道伝達関数やホルマントを求め、それらを可視化した。音声の質の可視化の実現によって、中国語発音のメカニズムを自然に理解し、自分の発音と手本となる発音との違いをビジュアル的に確認でき、学習者が無理なく自己トレーニング可能になって、最終的に自ら改善できることに繋がる。これによって、苦手意識をなくし、楽しく「発音」をマスターできるようになると期待できる。