Digital speech processing

Digital speech processing primarily involves the digitization, manipulation, and synthesis of vocal signals, facilitating advanced communication and analysis.

Definition of digital speech processing

Digital speech processing is the systematic conversion of analog speech signals into digital formats, enabling manipulation, analysis, and synthesis of speech for various applications.

Fundamentals of speech

Speech is defined as the combination of voice and language, distinct from mere vocalization. It is a critical mode of human communication, characterized by specific acoustic properties.

Acoustic properties of speech

• Speech intensity: Governed by the amplitude of the speech wave, influencing the objective measure of intensity and the subjective perception of loudness, which also depends on frequency.
• Tone length: Refers to the duration of speech sounds, influencing our perception of pitch and tone, primarily determined by pitch frequency in a logarithmic relationship.
• Timbre: The quality that allows us to distinguish between different voices, influenced by the number and strength of harmonics present in the speech signal.

Basic composition of speech

Speech in any language is composed of vowels and consonants, with vowels being dominant in duration and energy, while consonants vary in their energy and duration, and can be voiced or unvoiced.

In summary, digital speech processing involves the detailed study and application of these acoustic properties and compositional elements of speech, facilitating advanced communication technologies and applications.