Abstract:

A number of experiments were carried out in order to test the hypothesis that the degree of categorical perception of speech stimuli is a function of synthesis quality; specifically, that the greater complexity of more natural speech stimuli makes it difficult for listeners to focus on particular stimulus parameters such as psychoacoustic cues. The results show that there is some increase in categorical perception as synthesis quality improves from a simple synthesis by rule, via LPC synthesis, to a much more complex type called sine-wave generation.