Scully, Celia; (1990) Speech production modelling with particular reference to English. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Many of the complexities of structure in speech signals are related to the processes of speech production. The aim of this study is to develop a better signal model in the form of a computer-implemented composite model of speech production and to apply it to some allophone sequences for British English. The stages of speech production included in the model are: articulation, aerodynamics, derivation of acoustic sources, filtering by the vocal tract acoustic tube and radiation of a sound pressure wave. The aerodynamic processes give interactions between the various acoustic sources and between the sources and filter shapes. As a result, covarying bundles of acoustic pattern features were found in the model's outputs; these were qualitatively and, in some cases, quantitatively in agreement with corresponding patterns in natural speech. The linguistic, anatomical and acoustic frameworks of the study are set out. Speech production processes are discussed as theory and data in relation to models. The data are drawn from natural speech production and other sensori-motor skills. The actions of speech are described kinematically. The basic physical principles and equations needed to simulate aerodynamic processes are set out. Different approaches to the acoustic processes of sources and filtering are considered. The conditions needed for the sources are described. The composite model used in this study is described in terms of the basic principles, implementation methods and assessment. The modelling of some phonetic classes relevant to English speech is described. Simulations of some minimal and non-minimal articulatory contrasts, including eight published papers, are presented. A quantitative but flexible time scheme planning framework was developed and used as an input stage for the model. The general conclusions from and limitations of the study are discussed. Future development and work are suggested.

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