Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Foreign Accent and Forensic Speaker Identification in Voice Lineups: The Influence of Acoustic Features Based on Prosody
Published on: September 27, 2024
Automatic assessment of vowel space area
Steven Sandoval1, Visar Berisha, Rene L Utianski
1School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, Sensor, Signal & Information Processing Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287 spsandov@asu.edu.
This study introduces an automated method for estimating vowel space area (VSA) using connected speech. The new approach is more sensitive to speech production deficits than traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Speech science
- Linguistics
- Phonetics
Background:
- Vowel space area (VSA) is used to study speech production and intelligibility.
- Traditional VSA methods lack sensitivity to production deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop and validate an automated algorithm for VSA estimation.
- Improve sensitivity of VSA metrics for speech production analysis.
Main Methods:
- Algorithm development using connected speech, not isolated syllables.
- Estimation of the entire vowel working space, beyond corner vowels.
- Correlation analysis between traditional and automated VSA estimates.
Main Results:
- Strong correlation observed between traditional VSA and automated VSA estimates.
- Automated VSA method shows higher accuracy when methods diverge.
- The algorithm accounts for all vowels, providing a more comprehensive measure.
Conclusions:
- The automated VSA algorithm offers a more sensitive and accurate measure of speech production.
- This method enhances the study of speech deficits and intelligibility.
- The algorithm's use of connected speech and the full vowel space represents a significant advancement.
Related Concept Videos
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation:
Perceiving Loudness, Pitch, and Location
Place theory, or place coding, suggests that different pitches are heard because various sound waves activate specific locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane. The brain determines the pitch of a sound by...
Perception of Sound Waves
The pitch of a sound depends on the frequency and the pressure amplitude of the source. Two sounds of the same...
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Area Computation by the Alternative Coordinate Method

