Study on advancement of multilingual simultaneous broadcast system that achieves both language barrier-free and time-saving

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K04371
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 23020:Architectural environment and building equipment-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Morimoto Masayuki 神戸大学, 工学研究科, 名誉教授 (10110800)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 佐藤 逸人 神戸大学, 工学研究科, 准教授 (30346233)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 言語バリアフリー / 案内放送

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to advance the performance of a multilingual simultaneous broadcast system that can achieve both language barrier-free and time-saving by optimizing parameters such as loudspeaker arrangement. We conducted word intelligibility tests using Japanese words as target speech and Chinese, English, and Korean words as disturbing speech, and found the following. (1) When the number of languages broadcast simultaneously is 2 or 3, there is a possibility of practical use without optimization, while when the number is 4, it is necessary to improve the performance by using multiple loudspeakers and placing important information in the latter part of the broadcast message. (2) It is recommended that the target speech be about 10 dB louder than the background noise. (3) When the number of languages broadcast simultaneously increases to 3, the effect of reverberation becomes significant.

Free Research Field

環境音響学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

従来，放送の重畳はタブーとされてきたため本研究で開発しようとするシステムが学術的に検討された事例は少ないが，複数の言語が重なって聞こえたとしてもスピーカ配置などを最適化すれば実用化の可能性があり，本研究により実際にその可能性が示された。このシステムが実用化できれば，日本語以外を第一言語とする人々まで含めた安全・安心な環境構築の一助となることが期待される。