Speech Processing Task1 Assignment
Uploaded by
darkendusk07Speech Processing Task1 Assignment
Uploaded by
darkendusk07Speech Processing – Task 1
Question 1: Briefly explain about the following
Coarticulation:
Coarticulation is the process where the articulatory movements of one speech sound
overlap with those of adjacent sounds. It occurs because speech is produced continuously,
and the position of the articulators (tongue, lips, jaw) for one sound is influenced by the
preceding and following sounds. Example: When pronouncing “key” and “cool,” the tongue
position for /k/ differs because of the following vowel.
Phonation:
Phonation is the process of producing sound through the vibration of the vocal folds in the
larynx. When air from the lungs passes through the closed vocal cords, they vibrate,
generating a voiced sound. The frequency of this vibration determines the fundamental
frequency or pitch of the sound.
Fundamental Frequency (F₀):
Fundamental frequency (F₀) is the rate at which the vocal folds vibrate, measured in Hertz
(Hz). It represents the lowest frequency component of a speech signal and determines the
perceived pitch of the speaker’s voice. F₀ varies according to age, gender, and emotional
state.
Epochs:
Epochs refer to the instants of significant excitation in the speech waveform, usually
corresponding to glottal closure instants during voiced speech. They are critical for
analyzing pitch periods and for processing speech in applications like pitch tracking and
voice synthesis.
Pitch:
Pitch is the perceptual attribute of sound that allows us to classify sounds as “high” or “low.”
It is directly related to the fundamental frequency — higher F₀ gives higher pitch and vice
versa. However, pitch perception can also be influenced by sound intensity and harmonics.
Question 2:
“Female pitch is more when compared to Male pitch.” True or False. Justify the Statement
with proper explanation.
✅ True.
Females generally have higher pitch than males because their vocal folds are shorter,
thinner, and vibrate at a higher rate.
Average male F₀ ~85–180 Hz
Average female F₀ ~165–255 Hz
This difference arises due to anatomical factors — males have longer and thicker vocal
cords, which vibrate slower, producing a lower fundamental frequency and hence lower
pitch.
Question 3:
What is Speech? How the speech signal is different from other signals?
Speech is the process of expressing thoughts, emotions, or information using articulated
sounds. It involves the coordinated function of respiratory, phonatory, articulatory, and
resonatory systems to produce meaningful sounds.
Difference between Speech Signal and Other Signals:
Feature Speech Signal Other Signals
Nature Non-stationary and quasi- Can be stationary or
periodic periodic
Source Produced by human vocal May be electrical,
system mechanical, etc.
Information Contains linguistic, Contains only physical or
paralinguistic, and speaker- measurable data
specific info
Frequency Range Typically 0–8 kHz Varies widely depending on
signal type
Applications Speech recognition, Engineering, control
synthesis, speaker ID systems, etc.
