The design of a microcomputer-controlled voice onset time analyzer.

Area of Science:

• Acoustic phonetics
• Speech production
• Speech technology

Background:

• Voice onset time (VOT) is critical for distinguishing voiced and voiceless stop consonants.
• Accurate VOT is essential for clear speech and is often challenging for hearing-impaired individuals and non-native speakers.
• Existing methods for VOT measurement may lack portability and real-time feedback capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a prototype portable device for measuring voice onset time (VOT).
• To provide real-time acoustic feedback for speech modification.
• To assist individuals with hearing impairments and second language learners in improving speech production.

Main Methods:

• A dual-microphone system was employed for acoustic measurement of VOT.
• One microphone captured the radiated acoustic signal, while another transduced laryngeal vibrations.
• Analog circuits with filters processed signals, feeding into comparators and a digital timer for VOT calculation.

Main Results:

• The prototype device successfully measured VOT for initial voiced and voiceless stop consonants.
• VOT values obtained from the device showed comparable results to traditional waveform analysis.
• The system demonstrated potential for providing immediate feedback on speech production.

Conclusions:

• The developed portable device offers a viable method for measuring VOT.
• This technology has significant implications for speech rehabilitation and language learning.
• Real-time VOT feedback can facilitate improved speech intelligibility.