A morphogenetic model of the prosodic structure of languages: application to French

We present a morphogenetic and computational model of the prosodic structure of speech and its application to French. We briefly discuss our point of view on perception and its sensorimotor construction. The capacity of the model for more general studies of other forms of oral and gestural communication is examined. The theoretical foundation results from the interaction of the mathematical concepts with the language issue. These concepts were developed to meet the requirements of this study but also provide tools for validation. Once we have defined the notion of sensorimotor unity (prosodic here) we demonstrate how such units are produced in simple utterances. We then propose a set of rules to govern linkage between simple units and the creation of more complex forms of spontaneous or read speech. This model was validated by writing computer software that automatically separates the units and constructs the organization linking them together.