Computer-based system of analysis and interpretation of speech intonation

Abstract

In this paper we describe the importance of intonation in human comprehension of speech and in creation of computer-based systems for analysis, synthesis and understanding of speech signals. We lay out fundamental principles of intonational theory of speech that is based on the concept of universal melodic portraits. In addition, we describe the main algorithms of analysis and interpretation of intonation in an utterance that underlie the developed computer-based system for teaching of speech intonation. We further show the system’s output and discuss its usefulness in teaching foreign language intonation.