Automatic segmentation of continuous speech using minimum phase group delay functions

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new algorithm to automatically segment a continuous speech signal into syllable-like segments. The algorithm for segmentation is based on processing the short-term energy function of the continuous speech signal. The short-term energy function is a positive function and can therefore be processed in a manner similar to that of the magnitude spectrum. In this paper, we employ an algorithm, based on group delay processing of the magnitude spectrum to determine segment boundaries in the speech signal. The experiments have been carried out on TIMIT and TIDIGITS databases. The error in segment boundary is ⩽20% of syllable duration for 70% of the syllables. In addition to true segments, an overall 5% insertions and deletions have also been observed.