Research on the acoustic features of stutterer’s voices for the purposes of computer animation

Abstract

This paper deals with computerized visual echo, by means of which an animated image of lips speaking in chorus with the stutterer is provided. The computer animation is based on identifying the acoustic features of the Polish vowels. Only two parameters and identifying map could be made and with its help the area of each vowel occurrence could be determined. Then every area was assigned the characteristic image of lips that is typical of articulation of the vowel connected with this area. Three identifying maps are needed–for male voices, female voices, and children’s voices. They were elaborated on the basis of examination of 30 correct speaking people. Attempts were made at identifying vowels uttered by 12 stutterers on the basis of maps created earlier. For the stutterer’s voices the results of identification range around 70%. However, too small a group was examined to draw definite conclusions. Therefore, similar investigation will be continued, so as to finally confirm the applicability of computerized visual echo to stutterer’s therapy.