Parallel Speech Collection for Under-resourced Language Studies Using the Lig-Aikuma Mobile Device App

Abstract

This paper reports on our ongoing efforts to collect speech data in under-resourced or endangered languages of Africa. Data collection is carried out using an improved version of the Android application Aikuma developed by Steven Bird and colleagues 1. Features were added to the app in order to facilitate the collection of parallel speech data in line with the requirements of the French-German ANR/DFG BULB (Breaking the Unwritten Language Barrier) project. The resulting app, called Lig-Aikuma, runs on various mobile phones and tablets and proposes a range of different speech collection modes (recording, respeaking, translation and elicitation). Lig-Aikuma's improved features include a smart generation and handling of speaker metadata as well as respeaking and parallel audio data mapping. It was used for field data collections in Congo-Brazzaville resulting in a total of over 80hours of speech. Design issues of the mobile app as well as the use of Lig-Aikuma during two recording campaigns, are further described in this paper.