Speech : a dynamic process

__Speech: A dynamic process__ takes readers on a rigorous exploratory journey to expose them to the inherently dynamic nature of speech. The book addresses an intriguing question: Based only on physical principles alone, can the exploitation of a simple acoustic tube evolve into an optimal speech production system comparable to the one we possess? In the work presented, the tube is deformed step by step with the sole criterion of expending minimum effort to obtain maximum acoustic variations. At the end of this process, the tube is found divided into distinctive regions and an acoustic space emerges capable of generating speech sounds. Attaching this tube to a model, an inherently dynamic and efficient system is created. In the resulting system, optimal primitive trajectories are seen to naturally exist in the acoustic space and the regions defined in the tube correspond to the main places of articulation for oral vowels and plosive consonants. All this implies that these speech sounds are inherent properties of not only the modeled acoustic tube but also of the human speech production system. This book stands as a valuable resource for accomplished and aspiring speech scientists as well as for other interested persons in search for an introduction to speech acoustics that takes an unconventional path. Preface Contents Introduction 1 Speech: results, theories, models 1.1 Background 1.2 Speech production 1.2.1 Speech production theories 1.2.2 Speech production data 1.2.3 Speech production modeling 1.3 Speech perception 1.3.1 A short history of the study of speech perception 1.3.2 Models of speech perception 1.4 Conclusions 2 Perturbation and sensitivity functions 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Sensitivity functions for process modeling 2.3 Resonances and energy in an acoustic tube 2.4 From perturbation theory to sensitivity function 2.5 Approximating the tube by N sections 2.6 Example on a relation between A(x), SFi(x), and Fi 2.7 An example of a non-uniform tube 2.8 Conclusions 3 An efficient acoustic production system 3.1 Algorithm for efficient change of tube shape 3.2 Computational results 3.2.1 Exploring the F1-F2 acoustic plane 3.2.2 Behavior of an initially uniform tube constrained only by area limits 3.2.3 Toward a more realistic sound-producing tube 3.2.4 Starting from a non-uniform tube 3.3 Conclusions 4 The Distinctive Region Model (DRM) 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The model 4.2.1 The two-region model for the closed open case 4.2.2 The four-region model for the closed-open case 4.2.3 The eight-region-model for the closed open case 4.2.4 The closed-closed tube model 4.3 Use of the model to discover primitive trajectories 4.3.1 The model with simplified controls 4.3.2 From a closed-open to a closed-closed model 4.3.3 Deduction of seven primitive trajectories 4.4 Efficiency and optimality of the model 4.5 Summary and conclusions 5 Speech production and the model 5.1 The articulatory level 5.2 The DRM and vowel production 5.3 Vowel dynamics 5.4 Consonant production and the model 5.4.1 CV syllabic co-production and the model 5.4.2 VCV production 5.5 Discussion and conclusions 6 Vowel systems as predicted by the model 6.1 Problems of vowel system predictions 6.2 Prediction of vowel systems from DRM trajectories 6.3 The phonology-phonetics relation 6.4 Conclusions 7 Speech dynamics and the model 7.1 Characteristics of speech gestures as dynamic phonological primitives 7.1.1 The issue of duration range 7.1.2 The issue of kinetics 7.1.3 The issue of gesture synchrony 7.2 Formant transition rates 7.2.1 Vowel-to-vowel transition dynamics 7.2.2 Consonant-to-neutral vowel transition rates 7.3 Discussion and conclusions 8 Speech perception viewed from the model 8.1 Properties of the auditory system, in a nutshell 8.2 Auditory pattern recognition 8.3 Multiple auditory objects: information and streams 8.4 The dynamics of the auditory system 8.5 Is auditory perception optimal for speech? 9 Epistemological considerations 9.1 The integrated approach 9.1.1 Deductive method 9.1.2 Iterative process 9.1.3 Modeling 9.2 Findings 9.2.1 A dynamic approach to speech 9.2.2 Coding and acoustic phonology 9.2.3 The importance of time 9.2.4 Complexity 9.3 Conclusions 10 Conclusions and perspectives 10.1 Summary of findings and conclusions 10.1.1 Deductive-iterative modeling process 10.1.2 Efficiency and optimality 10.1.3 Acoustic phonology 10.1.4 Dynamic process 10.1.5 Explanatory process 10.2 Perspectives 10.2.1 Extension of the model to speech sounds other than oral vowels and plosive consonants 10.2.2 Co-production-deconvolution of gestures 10.2.3 Transition slopes and time normalization 10.2.4 From iterative to evolutionary process? 10.2.5 Practical applications Bibliography Index of terms Author Index "Speech: A dynamic process takes readers on a rigorous exploratory journey to expose them to the inherently dynamic nature of speech. The book addresses an intriguing question: Based only on physical principles alone, can the exploitation of a simple acoustic tube evolve into an optimal speech production system comparable to the one we possess? In the work presented, the tube is deformed step by step with the sole criterion of expending minimum effort to obtain maximum acoustic variations. At the end of this process, the tube is found divided into distinctive regions and an acoustic space emerges capable of generating speech sounds. Attaching this tube to a model, an inherently dynamic and efficient system is created. In the resulting system, optimal primitive trajectories are seen to naturally exist in the acoustic space and the regions defined in the tube correspond to the main places of articulation for oral vowels and plosive consonants. All this implies that these speech sounds are inherent properties of not only the modeled acoustic tube but also of the human speech production system. This book stands as a valuable resource for accomplished and aspiring speech scientists as well as for other interested persons in search for an introduction to speech acoustics that takes an unconventional path"-- Provided by publisher