An Evaluation of Text-to-Speech Synthesizers in the Foreign Language Classroom

An Evaluation of Text-to-Speech Synthesizers in the Foreign Language Classroom PDF Author: Tiago Bione
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
As stated in Cardoso, Smith, and Garcia Fuentes (2015), second language researchers and practitioners have explored the pedagogical capabilities of Text-To-Speech synthesizers (TTS) for their potential to enhance the acquisition of writing (e.g. Kirstein, 2006), vocabulary and reading (e.g. Proctor, Dalton, & Grisham, 2007), and pronunciation (e.g. Cardoso, Collins, & White, 2012). Despite their demonstrated effectiveness, there is a need for up-to-date formal evaluations of TTS systems, specifically for their potential to promote the ideal conditions under which languages are acquired, particularly in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environment, as suggested by Cardoso, Smith, and Garcia Fuentes (2015). This study evaluated a modern English TTS system in an EFL context in Brazil, at a number of levels, including speech quality, opportunity to focus on form, and learners' cognitive processing of TTS-generated texts. Fifteen Brazilian EFL learners participated in the study in which they listened to both human and TTS-produced speech samples while performing the above-mentioned tasks. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data about participants' perceptions of the technology. We report an analysis of these interviews, which indicate that EFL learners have overall positive attitudes towards the pedagogical use of TTS, and that they would like to use the technology as a learning tool. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED572005.].

An Evaluation of Text-to-Speech Synthesizers in the Foreign Language Classroom

An Evaluation of Text-to-Speech Synthesizers in the Foreign Language Classroom PDF Author: Tiago Bione
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 6

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Book Description
As stated in Cardoso, Smith, and Garcia Fuentes (2015), second language researchers and practitioners have explored the pedagogical capabilities of Text-To-Speech synthesizers (TTS) for their potential to enhance the acquisition of writing (e.g. Kirstein, 2006), vocabulary and reading (e.g. Proctor, Dalton, & Grisham, 2007), and pronunciation (e.g. Cardoso, Collins, & White, 2012). Despite their demonstrated effectiveness, there is a need for up-to-date formal evaluations of TTS systems, specifically for their potential to promote the ideal conditions under which languages are acquired, particularly in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environment, as suggested by Cardoso, Smith, and Garcia Fuentes (2015). This study evaluated a modern English TTS system in an EFL context in Brazil, at a number of levels, including speech quality, opportunity to focus on form, and learners' cognitive processing of TTS-generated texts. Fifteen Brazilian EFL learners participated in the study in which they listened to both human and TTS-produced speech samples while performing the above-mentioned tasks. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data about participants' perceptions of the technology. We report an analysis of these interviews, which indicate that EFL learners have overall positive attitudes towards the pedagogical use of TTS, and that they would like to use the technology as a learning tool. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED572005.].

CALL communities and culture – short papers from EUROCALL 2016

CALL communities and culture – short papers from EUROCALL 2016 PDF Author: Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous
Publisher: Research-publishing.net
ISBN: 1908416432
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 524

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Book Description
The 23rd EUROCALL conference was organised by the Cyprus University of Technology Language Centre. The theme of the conference was “CALL communities and Culture”. Between the 24th and 27th August 2016, over 135 presentations were delivered and 27 posters were presented; 84 of these presentations appear in this volume of selected peer-reviewed short papers.

Critical CALL – Proceedings of the 2015 EUROCALL Conference, Padova, Italy

Critical CALL – Proceedings of the 2015 EUROCALL Conference, Padova, Italy PDF Author: Francesca Helm
Publisher: Research-publishing.net
ISBN: 1908416289
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 598

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Book Description
The theme of the conference this year was Critical CALL, drawing inspiration from the work carried out in the broader field of Critical Applied Linguistics. The term ‘critical’ has many possible interpretations, and as Pennycook (2001) outlines, has many concerns. It was from these that we decided on the conference theme, in particular the notion that we should question the assumptions that lie at the basis of our praxis, ideas that have become ‘naturalized’ and are not called into question. Over 200 presentations were delivered in 68 different sessions, both in English and Italian, on topics related specifically to the theme and also more general CALL topics. 94 of these were submitted as extended papers and appear in this volume of proceedings.

The Path of Speech Technologies in Computer Assisted Language Learning

The Path of Speech Technologies in Computer Assisted Language Learning PDF Author: Melissa Holland
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135901481
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 271

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Book Description
This collection examines the promise and limitations for computer-assisted language learning of emerging speech technologies: speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, and acoustic visualization. Using pioneering research from contributors based in the US and Europe, this volume illustrates the uses of each technology for learning languages, the problems entailed in their use, and the solutions evolving in both technology and instructional design. To illuminate where these technologies stand on the path from research toward practice, the book chapters are organized to reflect five stages in the maturation of learning technologies: basic research, analysis of learners’ needs, adaptation of technologies to meet needs, development of prototypes to incorporate adapted technologies, and evaluation of prototypes. The volume demonstrates the progress in employing each class of speech technology while pointing up the effort that remains for effective, reliable application to language learning.

The Path of Speech Technologies in Computer Assisted Language Learning

The Path of Speech Technologies in Computer Assisted Language Learning PDF Author: Melissa Holland
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1135901473
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
This collection examines the promise and limitations for computer-assisted language learning of emerging speech technologies: speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, and acoustic visualization. Using pioneering research from contributors based in the US and Europe, this volume illustrates the uses of each technology for learning languages, the problems entailed in their use, and the solutions evolving in both technology and instructional design. To illuminate where these technologies stand on the path from research toward practice, the book chapters are organized to reflect five stages in the maturation of learning technologies: basic research, analysis of learners’ needs, adaptation of technologies to meet needs, development of prototypes to incorporate adapted technologies, and evaluation of prototypes. The volume demonstrates the progress in employing each class of speech technology while pointing up the effort that remains for effective, reliable application to language learning.

Text-to-Speech Synthesis

Text-to-Speech Synthesis PDF Author: Paul Taylor
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521899273
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 626

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Book Description
Text-to-Speech Synthesis provides a complete, end-to-end account of the process of generating speech by computer. Giving an in-depth explanation of all aspects of current speech synthesis technology, it assumes no specialised prior knowledge. Introductory chapters on linguistics, phonetics, signal processing and speech signals lay the foundation, with subsequent material explaining how this knowledge is put to use in building practical systems that generate speech. Including coverage of the very latest techniques such as unit selection, hidden Markov model synthesis, and statistical text analysis, explanations of the more traditional techniques such as format synthesis and synthesis by rule are also provided. Weaving together the various strands of this multidisciplinary field, the book is designed for graduate students in electrical engineering, computer science, and linguistics. It is also an ideal reference for practitioners in the fields of human communication interaction and telephony.

Text-to-speech Synthesis in Computer-assisted Language Learning for Irish

Text-to-speech Synthesis in Computer-assisted Language Learning for Irish PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


An Introduction to Text-to-Speech Synthesis

An Introduction to Text-to-Speech Synthesis PDF Author: Thierry Dutoit
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401157308
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
This is the first book to treat two areas of speech synthesis: natural language processing and the inherent problems it presents for speech synthesis; and digital signal processing, with an emphasis on the concatenative approach. The text guides the reader through the material in a step-by-step easy-to-follow way. The book will be of interest to researchers and students in phonetics and speech communication, in both academia and industry.

Language Teaching and Language Technology

Language Teaching and Language Technology PDF Author: Arthur van Essen
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134380054
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 282

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Book Description
This text assesses the importance of language technology to increasingly popular computer-assisted language learning work. The book contains writings on pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, testing, distance learning and user studies.

Broadcast News Workshop '99 Proceedings

Broadcast News Workshop '99 Proceedings PDF Author: Darpa
Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann
ISBN: 9781558606388
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 302

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Book Description