Model-based Duration-difference Approach on Accent Evaluation of L2 Learner Chatchawarn Hansakunbuntheung, Ananlada Chotimongkol, Sumonmas Thatphithakkul, Patcharika Chootrakool

摘要

This paper aims at using a model-based duration-difference approach to analyze L2 learners' duration-aspect accent, and, segmental duration characteristics. We. use the durational differences deviated from native-English speech duration as an objective measure to evaluate the learner's timing characteristics. The use of model-based approach provides flexible evaluation without the need to collect any additional English reference speech. The proposed evaluation method was tested on English speech, data uttered by native English speakers and Thai-native English learners with different English-study experiences. The experimental results show speaker clusters grouped by English accents and L2 learners' English-study experiences. These results support the effectiveness of the proposed model-based objective evaluation.