The role of F0 variation in the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences

Aniruddh D. Patel; Yi Xu; Bei Wang

The role of F0 variation in the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences

Aniruddh D. Patel, Yi Xu, Bei Wang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This study tested the importance of F0 variation for tone language comprehension. The intelligibility of Mandarin sentences with natural F0 contours was compared to the intelligibility of monotone (flat-F0) sentences created via speech resynthesis. In a quiet background, flat-F0 speech was just as intelligible as natural speech (about 94% intelligible), highlighting the robustness of the language comprehension system. However, when babble noise was added (0 db SNR) flat-F0 speech was substantially less intelligible than natural speech (60% vs. 80% intelligible), indicating that F0 variation is very important for Mandarin sentence intelligibility in noise.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	5th International Conference on Speech Prosody 2010
Publisher	International Speech Communications Association
ISBN (Electronic)	9780000000002
Publication status	Published - 2010
Externally published	Yes
Event	5th International Conference on Speech Prosody: Every Language, Every Style, SP 2010 - Chicago, United States Duration: 10 May 2010 → 14 May 2010

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the International Conference on Speech Prosody
ISSN (Print)	2333-2042

Conference

Conference	5th International Conference on Speech Prosody: Every Language, Every Style, SP 2010
Country/Territory	United States
City	Chicago
Period	10/05/10 → 14/05/10

Cite this

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title = "The role of F0 variation in the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences",

abstract = "This study tested the importance of F0 variation for tone language comprehension. The intelligibility of Mandarin sentences with natural F0 contours was compared to the intelligibility of monotone (flat-F0) sentences created via speech resynthesis. In a quiet background, flat-F0 speech was just as intelligible as natural speech (about 94% intelligible), highlighting the robustness of the language comprehension system. However, when babble noise was added (0 db SNR) flat-F0 speech was substantially less intelligible than natural speech (60% vs. 80% intelligible), indicating that F0 variation is very important for Mandarin sentence intelligibility in noise.",

author = "Patel, {Aniruddh D.} and Yi Xu and Bei Wang",

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year = "2010",

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series = "Proceedings of the International Conference on Speech Prosody",

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booktitle = "5th International Conference on Speech Prosody 2010",

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Patel, AD, Xu, Y & Wang, B 2010, The role of F0 variation in the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences. in 5th International Conference on Speech Prosody 2010. Proceedings of the International Conference on Speech Prosody, International Speech Communications Association, 5th International Conference on Speech Prosody: Every Language, Every Style, SP 2010, Chicago, United States, 10/05/10.

The role of F0 variation in the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences. / Patel, Aniruddh D.; Xu, Yi; Wang, Bei.
5th International Conference on Speech Prosody 2010. International Speech Communications Association, 2010. (Proceedings of the International Conference on Speech Prosody).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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PY - 2010

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N2 - This study tested the importance of F0 variation for tone language comprehension. The intelligibility of Mandarin sentences with natural F0 contours was compared to the intelligibility of monotone (flat-F0) sentences created via speech resynthesis. In a quiet background, flat-F0 speech was just as intelligible as natural speech (about 94% intelligible), highlighting the robustness of the language comprehension system. However, when babble noise was added (0 db SNR) flat-F0 speech was substantially less intelligible than natural speech (60% vs. 80% intelligible), indicating that F0 variation is very important for Mandarin sentence intelligibility in noise.

AB - This study tested the importance of F0 variation for tone language comprehension. The intelligibility of Mandarin sentences with natural F0 contours was compared to the intelligibility of monotone (flat-F0) sentences created via speech resynthesis. In a quiet background, flat-F0 speech was just as intelligible as natural speech (about 94% intelligible), highlighting the robustness of the language comprehension system. However, when babble noise was added (0 db SNR) flat-F0 speech was substantially less intelligible than natural speech (60% vs. 80% intelligible), indicating that F0 variation is very important for Mandarin sentence intelligibility in noise.

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T3 - Proceedings of the International Conference on Speech Prosody

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The role of F0 variation in the intelligibility of Mandarin sentences

Abstract

Publication series

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