U.S.-Sweden Cooperative Science: Acoustic Models of Consonant Production

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This two-year award in linguistics will support collaborative research between Dr. Kenneth N. Stevens of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) and Dr. Gunnar Fant of the Royal Institute of Technology (R.I.T) in Stockholm, Sweden. The objective of the proposed project is to advance scientific understanding of the acoustic processes of speech sounds, specifically consonant production. The M.I.T and R.I.T speech groups have had a long-standing collaboration in theoretical studies of acoustics and perception of consonants. Recently, the R.I.T group has been active in the development of computer-based vocal tract-models of consonant production; whereas, the MIT group has focused on acoustic analysis and synthesis of consonants and the application of acoustic studies to theories of phonetics and phonology. The proposed collaboration will link the recent work of American and Swedish speech groups in problematic areas in consonant production. These include: (1) sound generation at the larynx at vowel- consonant and consonant-vowel boundaries, (2) mechanisms of sound production at the release of stop consonants; and (3) acoustic changes at the implosion and release of nasal consonants. Dr. Stevens proposes to use the computer-based model at R.I.T to extensively test the M.I.T theories and to understand the model so it can be implemented on computers at M.I.T. for future research work. The field will benefit from the complementary expertise of both groups and advance our understanding of consonant production and processes. This research has important applications in the development of machine-made (electronic) speech synthesis and recognition. It also has relevance for the diagnosis and treatment of communication disorders and in second language learning.