Objective The SPELL project is a feasibility study for the use of speech recognition, synthesis and modification technology in computer-aided learning of languages.In this result, the analysis of macro (prosodic) and micro (segmental) features is described for a workstation designed to improve the pronunciation of English, French and Italian by nonnative speakers. The workstation is a teaching device aimed at intermediate ability foreign language learners. Audio and visual aids will be used to help students improve their general intelligibility within a basic teaching paradigm called DELTA (Demonstrate, Evaluate Listening, Teach and Assess). Prosodic analysis will apply to the features of intonation, stress and rhythm. A phonological approach is used for intonation which provides a structured system of contrasting units that correlate with discrete linguistic functions. A more limited approach to the prosodic phonology of stress and rhythm will be taught in the SPELL system (interactive system for spoken European language training) by manipulating the relatively simple acoustic features of vowel quality and segmental duration. The micro feature analysis will focus on the segmental class of vowels. A distinctive feature approach is used to characterize nonnative vowel pronunciation. Acoustic properties are sought which will be speaker independent.The aim of the project is to analyse the speech characteristics of nonnative speakers and to develop tools to help them improve their spoken language skills. Topics of work have included phonetic analysis, phonetic distance metrics, multilingual systems, linguistics and computer aided instruction. The languages involved are English, French and Italian; they will be analysed in order to extract their phonetic characteristics.This project is a feasibility study resulting in a demonstrator system able to process the voice of nonnative speakers in order to identify and correct pronunciation errors. The system guides the user through a set of examples which gradually improve pronunciation.The major components of the analysis and feedback systems have been designed and implemented and material for the training sessions has been developed. A demonstrator will be integrated by the completion of this project.In this study, existing technologies developed for speech recognition and computer-synthesis of speech would be complemented and tested in the context of the teaching of foreign languages. The languages involved are English, French and Italian. Fields of science humanitieslanguages and literaturegeneral language studieshumanitieslanguages and literaturelinguisticsphonologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesinfectious diseasesRNA virusesHIVnatural sciencesphysical sciencesacousticshumanitieslanguages and literaturelinguisticsphonetics Programme(s) FP2-ESPRIT 2 - European strategic programme (EEC) for research and development in information technologies (ESPRIT), 1987-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator Oros SA EU contribution No data Address 13 chemin des Prés ZIRST 38241 Meylan France See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Alcatel Italia SpA Italy EU contribution No data Address Viale Luigi Bodio 33-39 20158 Milano See on map Total cost No data Tecnopolis Csata Novus Ortus Italy EU contribution No data Address Strada Provinciale per Casamassima Km 3.00 70010 Valenzano Bari See on map Total cost No data Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza Italy EU contribution No data Address Piazzale Aldo Moro 5 00185 Roma See on map Total cost No data
