Patent ID: 6336089
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: G02F,G09B,G10L

Abstract:
An interactive pronunciation learning system comprising:a microprocessor; a data input device coupled to said microprocessor to enable a user to interact with said microprocessor; a display device coupled to said microprocessor to enable the user to visually compare his/her speech characteristics with that of a model speaker; a speech processor for recording and linking the continuous speech of said user reading a body of displayed text, said speech processor being coupled to said microprocessor; an audio device coupled to said speech processor for receiving the continuous stream of speech from said model speaker reading the same body of displayed text read by said user; means for connecting the output of said speech processor to a hearing device, the user thus being able to both visually and audibly compare his/her speech characteristics to that of the model speaker's; and means for mathematically comparing the phonetic and phonemic elements of the acoustic waveforms of the two linked speech segments and displaying the results for each line of text at the user's option, segments of the user's digitally recorded speech being marked and analyzed and compared to each equivalent segment of the model speaker's speech wherein each of said segments comprises one accented syllable and is about three syllables in length.