A STUDY OF 3D ANIMATION OF ARTICULATORY MOVEMENTS CONSIDERING SPEAKING TEST OF INTERNET BASED TOEFL TEST

对于日本人来说，英语发音中最难的发音之一是/r/发音。到目前为止，学习者只能通过脸部的正面和侧面看到发音动作。然而，在这项研究中，我们可以显示舌尖的前后部分，一个狭窄的舌槽，与上颚的关系，以及当学习者在完成/r/声音后放下舌头时，可以感知到它的速度。在3D动画中显示发音运动是非常重要的。2006年，德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的教授和副教授讨论了这个项目；然而，我们发现使用Poser软件仍然存在问题，该软件使我们能够看到嘴唇的圆度，尽管它使我们能够看到脸的前面和舌头的运动。在那之后，我开始在日本寻找一些能满足我预期模式的程序员。新的程序员致力于舌头、嘴巴和嘴里关节运动的肌肉运动。我们通过录音、建模、制作动画、渲染、编辑电影数据制作了一张DVD。构成/r/声音的四个单词将出现在3D动画程序中。1)在屏幕的左侧，展示了一位虚拟女士，屏幕的左侧显示了嘴巴的前面。2)嘴巴的前后，在发音之前，双唇关闭，舌头接触牙槽脊。3)/r/声音的位置：从前面开始，嘴唇是圆形的，舌尖是平的，接触到牙槽脊的后面。4)舌头缓慢地移动，发出/r/音，然后移动到下一个元音。5)当/r/音结束时，双唇合上，从侧面开始。

One of the most difficult English pronunciation for Japanese, is the /r/ sound.So far only ways for learners to see the articulatory movement is the front and the side of the face. However, in this research, we could show the front and back parts of the tongue tip, a narrow groove of the tongue, relation with upper palate and when drop the tongue after finishing the /r/ sound, learners can perceive its speed.It is very important to show the articulatory movement in 3D animation. In 2006, professors and associate professors of the university of Texas at Austin discussed this project ; however, we found there is still problem in using software, POSER which enable us the roundness of the lips though it made us possible to the front of the face and the tongue movement. After that, I started looking for some programmers in Japan who will satisfy my expected patterns.The new programmers worked on tongue, mouth and muscle movement of articulatory movement inside of the mouth. We created a DVD by recording sounds, modeling, creating animation, rendering, editing movie data.The four words which consists the /r/ sound will appear in the 3D animation procedures.1)On the left side of the screen, a virtual lady is exhibited and on the left side of the screen shows the front of the mouth.2) the front and back of the mouth, before pronouncing, the both lips are closed and the tongue touches the alveolar ridge.3) the place of the /r/ sound : from the front, the lips are rounded and the tip of the tongue is flat and touches little behind of the alveolar ridge. Only the central part of the tongue makes a narrow groove.4) The tongue moves slowly and make the /r/ sound and then moves to the next vowel.5) When the /r/ sound is finished, both lips are closed, and from the side.