Detecting Nasal Vowels in Speech Interfaces Based on Surface Electromyography.

ABSTRACT: Nasality is a very important characteristic of several languages, European Portuguese being one of them. This paper addresses the challenge of nasality detection in surface electromyography (EMG) based speech interfaces. We explore the existence of useful information about the velum movement and also assess if muscles deeper down in the face and neck region can be measured using surface electrodes, and the best electrode location to do so. The procedure we adopted uses Real-Time Magnetic Resonance Imaging (RT-MRI), collected from a set of speakers, providing a method to interpret EMG data. By ensuring compatible data recording conditions, and proper time alignment between the EMG and the RT-MRI data, we are able to accurately estimate the time when the velum moves and the type of movement

SUBMITTER: Freitas J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4466523 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature