Performance of speech enhancement algorithms on the speech intelligibility of native Mandarin listeners immersed in English-speaking environment

Abstract

Speech enhancement algorithms have been developed to improve speech intelligibility for listeners under noisy conditions. However, all existing algorithms were evaluated only by native listeners, the performance of such algorithms on non-native listeners was rarely investigated. This study conducts a subjective listening test on native New Zealand English listeners and native Mandarin listeners who have been immersed in New Zealand English-speaking environment for more than one year. The participants were asked to transcribe noisy English sentences processed by five widely used single-channel speech enhancement algorithms. The speech intelligibility of the two groups was quantified and compared to investigate the effectiveness of the speech enhancement algorithms on non-native listeners who are familiar with the target language.