Exploiting natural neural control to minimize speech errors among language learners

学习一门新语言很难，尤其是对成年人来说。虽然词汇、语法、写作、阅读和听力都很有挑战性，但学习一门新语言是最难的。当学习一门与自己的语言非常不同的语言时尤其如此。这个项目将绕过学习用外语说话所固有的各种困难。我们将构建一个软件平台，能够自主地指导语言学习者熟练掌握一门外语，无论是独立的还是在人类导师的支持下。该项目将实现关于人类如何学习新语言的发现，以及可以分析和操纵每个学习者说外语的尝试的强大算法。该项目是多伦多大学计算机科学助理教授Frank Rudzicz博士和Syngli Inc.创始人Simon Overduin博士合作完成的。Rudzicz博士是计算机科学领域的领先研究人员，他在理解语音分析、识别、特征提取和操作方面做出了重要贡献。奥弗杜恩博士自己的研究背景专注于行为的优化和神经基础，包括言语。他的初创公司Syngli应用了Overduin博士及其同事的一些研究成果，形式是一种智能辅导系统，能够在广泛的领域跟踪和指导学习。

Learning a new language is hard, especially for adults. While vocabulary, grammar, writing, reading andlistening are all challenging, learning to speak in a new language is hardest of all. This is particularly true whenlearning a language very different than one's own.This project would circumvent various difficulties inherent in learning to speak in a foreign language. We willconstruct a software platform able to autonomously guide language learners towards proficiency in a foreigntongue, either independently or with the support of a human tutor. The project would implement discoveriesabout how humans learn new languages, along with powerful algorithms that can analyze and manipulate eachlearner's attempts to speak in a foreign language.The project is a collaboration between Dr. Frank Rudzicz (Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Universityof Toronto) and Dr. Simon Overduin (Founder, Syngli Inc.). Dr. Rudzicz is a leading research within computerscience, and has made important contributions to the understanding of speech analysis, recognition, featureextraction and manipulation. Dr. Overduin's own research background focused on the optimization and neuralunderpinnings of behaviour, including speech. His start-up Syngli applies some of the research by Dr. Overduinand colleagues, in the form of an intelligent tutoring system that is able to track and guide learning in a widevariety of domains.