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Categorical perception as a function of stimulus quality
1Research Institute for Language and Speech UiL-OTS, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Phonetica
|August 18, 1999
Summary
Speech perception becomes more categorical as synthesized speech quality improves. Higher quality stimuli, like sinewave generation, enhance listeners
Area of Science:
- Speech Perception
- Psychoacoustics
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Categorical perception of speech is a fundamental aspect of auditory processing.
- The influence of synthesis quality on categorical perception remains an area of active investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that speech stimulus categorical perception is influenced by synthesis quality.
- To investigate if increased complexity in natural speech stimuli hinders the use of psychoacoustic cues.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted using speech stimuli generated with varying synthesis techniques.
- Synthesis methods ranged from simple rule-based synthesis to more complex LPC and sinewave generation.
Main Results:
- A positive correlation was observed between synthesis quality and the degree of categorical perception.
- Listeners exhibited increased categorical perception with higher quality speech synthesis, including sinewave generation.
Conclusions:
- Synthesis quality significantly impacts the categorical perception of speech stimuli.
- More complex and naturalistic speech stimuli may facilitate categorical perception by enhancing the salience of psychoacoustic cues.