A Modeling of Prosody Perception for Second Language Learning

2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20300069
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Perception information processing/Intelligent robotics
• Research Institution: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (2009-2012); Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (2008)
• Principal Investigator: KATO Hiroaki 独立行政法人情報通信研究機構, ユニバーサルコミュニケーション研究所多感覚・評価研究室, 主任研究員 (20374093)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SAGISAKA Yoshinori 早稲田大学, 大学院・国際情報通信研究科, 教授 (70339737) ; TSUZAKI Minoru 京都市立芸術大学, 音楽学部, 教授 (60155356) ; TAJIMA Keiichi 法政大学, 文学部, 教授 (70366821)
• Research Collaborator: YAMADA Reiko 株式会社国際電気通信基礎技術研究所, 主幹研究員 ; SONU Mee 上智大学, 博士研究員 ; NAKAMURA Shizuka 早稲田大学, 学生 ; HANSAKUNBUNTHEUNG Chatchawarn 早稲田大学, 学生 ; TANAKA Satomi 京都市立芸術大学, 学生 ; AIBA Eriko 京都市立芸術大学, 学生 ; HIRATA Yukari Colgate University, 准教授
• Project Period (FY): 2008 – 2012
• Keywords: 知覚認知学習 / 音声言語情報処理 / 聴覚 / 時間的側面 / 韻律 / 音声言語習得 / 国際情報交換

Research Abstract

hrough a series of empirical studies, the present project proposed a model that quantitatively estimates human evaluation of given speech data regarding naturalness or fluency. This model made possible the objective evaluation of a non-native accented voice. These results can contribute to the promotion of effectiveness of so-called computer-assisted language learning/testing framework by providing an element of automatic fluency evaluation.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Non-native perception and learning of the phonemic length contrast in spoken Japanese: training Korean listeners using words with geminate and singleton phonemes (2013)
  • Author(s): Sonu, M., Kato, H., Tajima, K., Akahane Yamada, R., and Sagisaka, Y.
  • Journal Title: J. East Asian Linguist Volume: 22(印刷中)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] 語彙が与える印象にもとつく対話韻律生成 (2011)
  • Author(s): グリーンバーグ陽子,加藤宏明,津崎実,匂坂芳典
  • Journal Title: 日本音響学会誌 Volume: 67 Pages: 65-74
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Model-based automatic evaluation of second-language learner's English segmental duration characteristics (2010)
  • Author(s): Chatchawarn, H., Kato, H., and Sagisaka, Y.
  • Journal Title: Acoust. Sci. Technol. Volume: 31 Pages: 267-277
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Native and non-native perceptual cues of length contrasts in Japanese, ASSTA (Australasian Speech Science and Technology Association) Research Event: (2011)
  • Author(s): Kato, H.
  • Organizer: Workshop on speech production/perception training research focusing on the acquisition of length contrasts in Japanese (and other languages)
  • Place of Presentation: Macquarie Univ., NSW, Australia(招待講演)
  • Year and Date: 2011-06-16
• [Presentation] Are computer 'ears' better than human ears at evaluating a foreign accent in a second language? (2008)
  • Author(s): Kato, H.
  • Organizer: Picker Institute Symposium and Science Colloquium Series "Tongues, hands, and brains: Language learning and development"
  • Place of Presentation: Colgate Univ., NY, USA(招待講演)
  • Year and Date: 2008-10-10