The Path of Speech Technologies in Computer Assisted Language Learning

This collection examines the promise and limitations for computer-assisted language learning of emerging speech technologies: speech recognition, text-to-speech synthesis, and acoustic visualization. Using pioneering research from contributors based in the US and Europe, this volume illustrates the uses of each technology for learning languages, the problems entailed in their use, and the solutions evolving in both technology and instructional design. To illuminate where these technologies stand on the path from research toward practice, the book chapters are organized to reflect five stages in the maturation of learning technologies: basic research, analysis of learners' needs, adaptation of technologies to meet needs, development of prototypes to incorporate adapted technologies, and evaluation of prototypes. The volume demonstrates the progress in employing each class of speech technology while pointing up the effort that remains for effective, reliable application to language learning.

Melissa Holland directs research in multilingual technology at U.S. Army Research Lab, including machine translation, speech recognition, and document image processing. In the area of computer applications for language learning, she has edited a book (Erlbaum) on natural language processing and a special issue of CALICO Journal on speech recognition. F. Pete Fisher is a Senior Electronics Engineer in the Computational and Information Sciences Directorate at the US Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, MD.

List of Figures. List of Tables. 1. "The Path of Speech Technologies in CALL: Tracking the Science," V. Melissa Holland and F. Pete Fisher SECTION I. SAMPLING THE RESEARCH BASE: LANGUAGE PEDAGOGY, SPEECH PERCEPTION 2. "Applications of Technology to Language Acquisition Processes: What can Work and Why," Ray Clifford and Neil Granoien 3. "Applications of Formant Detection in Language Learning," Pedro Gomez, Agustín Álvarez, Rafael Martínez, Jesús Bobadilla, Jesús Bernal, Víctor Rodellar, and Victoria Nieto SECTION II. ANALYZING NEEDS: THE CASE OF A PRONUNCIATION TUTOR 4. "Perceptual Underpinnings of Automatic Pronunciation Assessment," Kristin Precoda and Harry Bratt SECTION III. ADAPTING SPEECH TECHNOLOGY: THE EXAMPLES OF VISUALIZATION AND SYNTHESIS 5. "Visualization of Speech Patterns for Language Learning, " Garry Molholt and Fenfang Hwu 6. "Speech Synthesis for Language Tutoring Systems," Rudolfo Delmonte SECTION IV. DEVELOPING PROTOTYPE SYSTEMS: THE EXAMPLES OF PRONUNCIATION TRAINING AND PROFICIENCY TESTING 7. "Design Features of Three Computer-Based Speech Training Systems," Jonathan Dalby and Diane Kewley-Port 8. "Logic, Operation, and Validation of a Fully Automatic Spoken English Test," Jared Bernstein and Jian Cheng SECTION V. EVALUATING SYSTEMS: THE CASE OF A READING TUTOR 9. "4-Month Evaluation of a Learner-controlled Reading Tutor That Listens," Jack Mostow, Gregory Aist, Cathy Huang, Brian Junker, Rebecca Kennedy, Hua Lan, DeWitt Latimer IV, Rollanda O'Connor, Regina Tassone, and Adam Wierman 10. Aist and Mostow, "Faster, Better Task Choice in a Reading Tutor That Listens," Jack Mostow and Gregory Aist. Contributors