Why can big.bi be changed to bi.gbi? A mathematical model of syllabification and articulatory synthesis

TL;DR

This paper introduces a mathematical model for articulatory synthesis based on syllable graphs, enabling detailed simulation of speech articulation and transformations, with applications demonstrated on simplified syllables.

Contribution

It presents a novel syllable graph-based framework for articulatory synthesis that simplifies articulation modeling and captures coarticulation and speech transformations.

Findings

Model describes consonant-vowel coarticulation effectively

Simulations with simplified syllables demonstrate articulation dynamics

Transitions in syllable graphs model verbal transformations

Abstract

A simplified model of articulatory synthesis involving four stages is presented. The planning of articulatory gestures is based on syllable graphs with arcs and nodes that are implemented in a complex representation. This was first motivated by a reduction in the many-to-one relationship between articulatory parameters and formant space. This allows for consistent trajectory planning and computation of articulation dynamics with coordination and selection operators. The flow of articulatory parameters is derived from these graphs with four equations. Many assertions of Articulatory Phonology have been abandoned. This framework is adapted to synthesis using VLAM (a Maeda's model) and simulations are performed with syllables including main vowels and the plosives /b,d,g/ only. The model is able to describe consonant-vowel coarticulation, articulation of consonant clusters, and verbal transformations are seen as transitions of the syllable graph structure.