The software goes beyond presenting the simplistic English words and phrases found on language audiotapes. Users can customize lessons for words and phrases used in the business world or in such high-tech fields as aerospace engineering. Dr. Schwartz said Asians often have difficulty speaking English because most Asian languages lack many of the patterns of stress and intonation that makes up much of the meaning in spoken English. On the computer, they can practice everything from stressing syllables and word endings to pausing between phrases or raising their voices at the end of a sentence when asking a question. Their voices are recorded and played back, and the computer displays a graphic of their voices that looks similar to an amplitude and pitch display on a stereo.
Users can compare both to the computer's standard English voice.
A database then keeps track of an individual's progress over time. Dr. Schwartz said research has shown accents tend to become a glass ceiling that slows promotions for foreign-born employees into management positions. In the end, companies are hurt because talented people are underutilized, he said. And that leaves the company in the lurch for finding a replacement.