Inter-language prosodic style modification experiment using word impression vector for communicative speech generation

To confirm the language independency of a communicative prosody generation from input word impression vector, we synthesized communicative Mandarin speech using prosodic characteristics of communicative Japanese speech. The fundamental frequency and duration characteristics of oneword “n” utterances of Japanese were copied to Mandarin through input word attributes. From the subjective impressions of an input word, a three-dimensional vector was calculated through Multi-Dimensional Scaling analysis. Three dimensions reflecting impressions of confidentdoubtful, allowable-unacceptable and positive-negative correspond to systematic prosodic variations; F0 height, F0 dynamics and duration. Subjective evaluation of synthesized speech showed the possibility of communicative prosody generation from input word impression vector language independently.