PROMOTING INCREASED PITCH VARIATION IN ORAL PRESENTATIONS WITH TRANSIENT VISUAL FEEDBACK
2009 (English)In: Language Learning & Technology, E-ISSN 1094-3501, Vol. 13, no 3, p. 32-50Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
This paper investigates learner response to a novel kind of intonation feedback generated from speech analysis. Instead of displays of pitch curves, our feedback is flashing lights that show how much pitch variation the speaker has produced. The variable used to generate the feedback is the standard deviation of fundamental frequency as measured in semitones. Flat speech causes the system to show yellow lights, while more expressive speech that has used pitch to give focus to any part of an utterance generates green lights. Participants in the study were 14 Chinese students of English at intermediate and advanced levels. A group that received visual feedback was compared with a group that received audio feedback. Pitch variation was measured at four stages: in a baseline oral presentation; for the first and second halves of three hours of training; and finally in the production of a new oral presentation. Both groups increased their pitch variation with training, and the effect lasted after the training had ended. The test group showed a significantly higher increase than the control group, indicating that the feedback is effective. These positive results imply that the feedback could be beneficially used in a system for practicing oral presentations.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2009. Vol. 13, no 3, p. 32-50
National Category
Computer and Information Sciences General Language Studies and Linguistics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-32447ISI: 000270993800005Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-77950742653OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-32447DiVA, id: diva2:410811
Note
QC 20110415
2011-04-152011-04-142024-01-22Bibliographically approved