...Evaluating Commercial Spoken Language Translation Software Harold SOMERS and Yuri SUGITA1 Centre for Computational Linguistics UMIST, PO Box 88 Manchester M60 1QD, England Harold.Somers@umist.ac.uk, sugita_yuri@yahoo.co.jp Abstract1 While spoken language translation remains a research goal, a crude form of it is widely available commercially for Japanese–English as a pipeline concatenation of speech-to-text recognition (SR), text-to-text translation (MT) and text-to-speech synthesis (SS). This paper proposes and illustrates an evaluation methodology for this noisy channel which tries to quantify the relative amount of degradation in translation quality due to each of the contributing modules. A small pilot experiment involving word-accuracy rate for the SR, and a fidelity evaluation for the MT and SS modules is proposed in which subjects are asked to paraphrase translated and/or synthesised sentences from a tourist’s phrasebook. Results show (as expected) that MT is the “noisiest” channel, with SS contributing least noise. The concatenation of the three channels is worse than could be predicted from the performance of each as individual tasks. 1. Introduction Evaluation is without doubt a major aspect of language engineering, including Machine Translation (MT). Although it is still true that no consensus exists regarding the best way to evaluate software, there is general agreement about some of the factors that must be taken into account when deciding what form an evaluation...
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...Running head: Text to Speech Text to Speech Technology Professor: ABSTRACT Text to speech approaches towards adding expressivity to machines is an important field being researched and worked on these days. This paper presents an overview of speech synthesis approach, its applications and advancements towards modern technology. It begins with a description of how such systems work, examines the use of text-to-speech software and try to apply this technology to the DMCS project for evidence of benefits of text to speech applications for people engaged in different fields and the level of accuracy that can be expected. Applications of speech synthesis technology in various fields are then explored. The document concludes with potential uses of speech to text in various fields, likely main uses of the technology in the future. TEXT TO SPEECH – INTRODUCTION A Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesis is a widely used technology that should be able to read any text aloud, whether it was directly introduced in the computer by an operator or scanned and submitted to an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system. Let it be more precise, systems that simply concatenate isolated words or parts of sentences, denoted as Voice Response Systems, are only applicable when a limited vocabulary is required (typically a few one hundreds of words), and when the sentences to...
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...CONCATENATIVE TEXT-TO-SPEECH SYNTHESIS OF TWO-SYLLABLE FILIPINO WORDS Lourdes T. Tupas, Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, Ph.D., and Melvin Co Digital Signal Processing Laboratory Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering University of the Philippines, Diliman ABSTRACT In concatenative-based speech synthesizers, one of the most important problems is proper union of speech units to achieve an intelligible and natural-sounding synthetic speech. For that purpose, speech units need to be processed and concatenated so that discontinuities at concatenation points are minimized. Another possible solution to this is by using a larger speech unit to decrease the number of concatenation points. In this project, which utilized two-syllable Filipino words, the speech unit is syllable. Characterization of these Filipino words is done to differentiate words of the same spelling but of different meanings. This characterization took note of the pitch, duration of utterance of each syllable in the word, and the first three formant frequencies. A digital signal processing (DSP) block is also implemented. It accepts two-syllable text and outputs all the possible utterances of that word; this block is the text-to-speech synthesizer. A two-interval forced choice test was conducted to evaluate the level of naturalness of the synthesized speech. Words of the same spelling but of different meanings are distinguished using the prosody and intelligibility test. 1. INTRODUCTION ...
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...The Implication of Using Natural Reader Software to Increase Students’ Listening Comprehension Many students have difficulties with listening comprehension. Sometimes, they are bored, even complain that they get little bit benefit from listening class. That is why many of them need to practice listening basics, and it is necessary for English teachers to realize the importance of how to make listening class more interesting so that they can make progress in listening comprehension. Natural Reader software might be one of the solutions to solve the difficulties on listening comprehension class. Listening is a skill that is rarely taught in the classroom but is frequently used to communicate even in final exam at Senior High School. That is why listening is an important skill that empowers students to learn more deeply and effectively. A good situation in listening has to be created with proficiency of receiving, interpreting and reacting to the messages received from the communication sender. Practicing listening technique in most of Indonesian senior high school are plenty, but unfortunately, most of them are also ineffective. It occurs because most of the techniques that used in listening classes are common. According to Richard, “technique is implementational- that which actually take place in the classroom.” The techniques such as listening with tape recorder, radio tape, or dictation are not very effective in practice as many disturbances will occur. Like the media such...
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...seen in my synthesis essay and social justice speech. The thesis of my synthesis essay states “Sexual assault is an issue that is constantly faced in the workplace, at school, on the streets and even in the comfort of home. The society as a whole must not accept this as normal and must take actions towards fixing this problem; but, in order for this to happen, they must...
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...SOAPSTONE (subject, occasion, audience, purpose, speaker, tone, organization, narrative style and evidence) strategy for use in analyzing prose and visual texts along with three of the five cannons of rhetoric: invention, arrangement and style. ▪ Students learn the format of the AP test, essay rubric and essay structure. ▪ Students take a full-length AP test for comparison purposes in the spring. Reading: The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne Writing: Answer the following question in one paragraph. Use quotes from the novel as evidence. Some readers believe that the elaborate decoration that Hester embroiders on the scarlet letter indicates her rejection of the community’s view of her act. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your position using evidence from the text. (test grade) Writing: Write a well-developed essay addressing the following prompt. Document all sources using MLA citation. Compare Hester to a modern day person who has been shunned. Provide at least two research sources for the other person. (project grade) Reading: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Jonathan Edwards Analyzing: SOAPSTONE and cannons of rhetoric Reading: Teacher Introduction Essay Writing: Students and teacher evaluate where each student’s writing is and where it needs to be by analyzing students’ introductory...
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...into two parts which are (1) Group Essay and (2) Group Presentation. TASK 1- Synthesis Essay Writing - (20%) In your LECTURE class: 1. Get into groups of 4-5 students. 2. Each group is to choose a theme (e.g. Petroleum). This theme has to be agreed by all group members before given to the lecturer. Lecturer is required to approve your theme before you can finalize it. 3. If your group could not decide on a theme, the lecturer will provide a list of themes for your choosing. 4. Themes are chosen on first-come-first-serve basis. 5. NO two groups in one lecture may choose a common theme. 6. Then, decide the genre/angle/aspect of the theme which you are going to use to compose your essay and discuss with your lecturer and seek approval. - E.g. Let’s say that the theme of your group is ‘Petroleum’. You are then required to choose either to write a problem-solution essay or a cause-effect essay based on the theme chosen i.e. - Problem of petroleum on economy. - Solution to implement subsidy. - Solution to reduce vehicle usage. 7. Seek external references for your essay (magazine articles, newspaper articles, journals, and credible websites) as sources for your essay. 8. Collect a MINIMUM OF 5 sources for your essay and these sources MUST be quoted in your essay. (APA format) 9. Plan and compose a synthesis essay from 500 - 750 words. Updated: Semester201601 1 10. Submit the final copy of essay to TURNITIN in Week 10 (refer to deadline...
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...Copyright © 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-0-07-180360-1 MHID: 0-07-180360-2 The material in this eBook also appears in the print version of this title: ISBN: 978-0-07-180359-5, MHID: 0-07180359-9. E-book conversion by Codemantra Version 1.0 All trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Rather than put a trademark symbol after every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use names in an editorial fashion only, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. McGraw-Hill Education eBooks are available at special quantity discounts to use as premiums and sales promotions or for use in corporate training programs. To contact a representative please visit the Contact Us page at www.mhprofessional.com. Trademarks: McGraw-Hill Education, the McGraw-Hill Education logo, 5 Steps to a 5 and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of McGraw-Hill Education and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property...
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...paragraphs! This is the most important part as it makes up the bulk of your essays. Call it a journey to the floating lights! Tip: For all body paragraphs of the three types of essays, you have to cite your sources/evidence. You can do that by putting quotation marks or citing the author or source’s name somewhere in the body paragraph. Body paragraphs for Rhetorical Analysis: Body paragraph 1 and 2 should include a topic sentence followed by a piece of evidence, in this case, a cited quote. After inserting the piece of evidence, you should explain what rhetorical strategy or technique the author uses in that specific example....
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...Mr. Macomber English 3 AP Syllabus 1.5 English 3 AP Course Overview Students in this introductory college-level course read and carefully analyze a broad and challenging range of nonfiction prose selections, deepening their awareness of rhetoric and how language works. Through close reading and frequent writing, students develop their ability to work with language and texts in order to establish greater awareness of purpose and strategy, while strengthening their own composing abilities. C16 Students examine rhetoric in essays, images, movies, novels, and speeches. They frequently confer about their writing by conferencing in class. C 14 Feedback is given both before and after students revise their work to help them develop logical organization, enhanced by specific techniques to increase coherence. Rhetorical structures, graphic organizers, and work on repetition, transitions, and emphasis are addressed. I comment on individual drafts, and I write memos to the class in a blog about whole-class concerns such as specificity of quotations, parallelism, and transitions. C13 Simultaneously, students review the simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence classifications. We examine word order, length, and surprising constructions. Loose and periodic sentences are introduced. We examine sample sentences and discuss how change affects tone, purpose, and credibility of the author/speaker. In addition, feedback on producing sentence structure variety...
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...required to approve your theme before you can finalize it. 3. If your group could not decide on a theme, the lecturer will provide a list of themes for your choosing. 4. Themes are chosen on first-come-first-serve basis. 5. NO two groups in one lecture may choose a common theme. 6. Then, decide the genre/angle/aspect of the theme which you are going to use to compose your essay and discuss with your lecturer and seek approval. - E.g. Let’s say that the theme of your group is ‘Petroleum’. You are then required to choose either to write a problem-solution essay or a cause-effect essay based on the theme chosen i.e. - Problem of petroleum on economy. - Solution to implement subsidy. - Solution to reduce vehicle usage. 7. Seek external references for your essay (magazine articles, newspaper articles, journals, and credible websites) as sources for your essay. 8. Collect a MINIMUM OF 5 sources for your essay and these sources MUST be quoted in your essay. (APA format) 9. Plan and compose a synthesis essay from 500 - 750 words. 10. Submit the final copy of essay to TURNITIN in Week 9 (refer to deadline given by lecturer) 11. Compile and submit the hardcopy of the assignment to your lecturer in Week 10. REMINDER: • This will be a group task and marks will be awarded on a group basis. •...
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...and hardware and will develop a personal technology philosophy and classroom technology plan designed to enhance and shape their teaching skills and knowledge to better utilize emerging technology. (APTS 3, INTASC 6) Assessment Tool Selected 1) Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan 2) Reflection Essay Specific Performance/Task(s) Select and implement appropriate technology and resources. (APTS 3.11) Select and use research-based strategies to engage learners. (APTS 3.12) Relevancy of Task to Teacher Candidate Demonstrate the effective use of technology to foster active inquiry, promote collaboration, and support interaction in the classroom. Assessment: Student Prompts/Teacher Directions Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan (e-Portfolio Assignment) In Modules 2-6 you will be drafting the component parts of a Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan for use in a 21st century classroom. The Comprehensive Classroom Technology Plan will include the sections listed below. Drafts of these sections will be submitted throughout the course for instructor feedback and will be revised for inclusion in the Benchmark Assessment, due in Module 7. A Reflection Essay will also be prepared to accompany the plan. The plan is composed of the following components: * Section One: Mission and Vision Statement * Section Two: Communications Plan * Section Three: Integrating Instructional Technology * Section Four: Software to Support Assessment * Section Five:...
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...COM 155 (VER 4) Appendix E For more classes visit www.indigohelp.com Appendix E Sentence Correction and Changes in Writing Review the following sentences. Some of them are correct, whereas others contain an error with a commonly confused word. Identify those with errors by marking each of the errors in bold. Make the correction in parentheses after the error. For those that are correct, write correct at the end of the sentence. ………………………………………………… COM 155 (VER 4) Appendix F For more classes visit www.indigohelp.com Appendix F Summary, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation Review the four paragraphs below. There is one paragraph matching each of the following types: summary, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Once you have read each paragraph, complete the following chart to identify the type of paragraph for each. Paragraph Number ………………………………………………… COM 155 (VER 4) Assignment Identifying Errors in Writing For more classes visit www.indigohelp.com Appendix D Identify Twenty Errors in the Passage Below Review the passage below, which contains 20 errors. Identify these errors by marking each of the errors in bold, and make your correction in parentheses after the error. Example: My cars interior is black. This must be marked as follows: My cars (car’s) interior is black. The 20 errors are in the following categories: comma usage (six errors); question marks, apostrophes, and quotation marks (five errors); capitalization (six errors); and colons...
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...George Obiyo Varieties of Capitalism A synthesis essay on Washington Consensus, Ways of achieving a fiscal discipline, Fundamentalism (arguments against), Difference in European Liberalism and A post Washington consensus with empirical evidence on economic development. A) Washington consensus was a term created in 1989 by an English Economist John Williamson which focused on 10 relatively specific forms of economic policy that could help to promote developing countries that are in economic crisis. It was based in Washing D.C USA by institutions such as the US Treasury Department, World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Williamson three main idea were based on the Macroeconomic discipline, the development and expansion of market forces around the domestic economy and the high degree of economic openness in and around the world. The ten policy reforms centers on: 1. Fiscal Policy – Constructive monetary discipline while avoiding a high rate of deficit : with a high deficit it could lead to balance of payment crisis with relatively high inflation that in most cases only affect the poor class as the rich are able to transfer their money overseas 2. Public Expenditures Priorities – The government should be neutral by eliminating or reducing in terms of non-merits subsidies and give more focus to pro-growth and pro-poor way policies example sectors like health, Education and infrastructure. Where health can close the gap between inequalities as the poor can cheaply...
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...Division of Fine Arts, Speech and Commercial Music Northwest College ARTS 1303 – Art History I CRN 42838 – Spring 2015 SPBR Campus - Room 602 / 8:00-9:30am / T,R Credit:3 / 3 hour lecture course / 48 hours per semester Course length : 16 weeks/ Type of Instruction Traditional (Face-to-Face) Instructor: David Swaim Instructor Contact Information: Email: david.swaim@hccs.edu Phone: (713) 718-5674 Due to changes in the state core curriculum this syllabus is subject to change!!!! Office location and hours SPBR room AD4 hours: 7:15-8:00 am and as per class discussion Please feel free to contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course. You do not need to wait until you have difficulties or have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance. Your performance in my class is very important to me. I am available to hear your concerns and just to discuss course topics. Feel free to come by my office anytime during these hours. Course Description This course is a global investigation of the styles and methods of artistic production covering Prehistoric through Gothic periods. Media studied include: drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, and metal arts. Using this framework, universal themes are studied within their historical, political, economic, theological, sociological, and ethnic contexts. Prerequisites Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing Academic...
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