Newsgroups: comp.speech
Path: pavo.csi.cam.ac.uk!doc.ic.ac.uk!agate!ames!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!swrinde!news.dell.com!milano!cactus.org!conyn_j
From: conyn_j@cactus.org (Jim Conyngham)
Subject: Request for collaborators
Message-ID: <1993Jul30.044409.3208@cactus.org>
Organization: Capital Area Central Texas UNIX Society, Austin, Tx
Distribution: comp.speech
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1993 04:44:09 GMT
Lines: 46

                            PYGMALIAN SOFTWARE

Rationale:

Second language learning is ideally done in a total emersion
situation, and is best accomplished before adolescence.  When an
individual attempts to learn a second language later than this,
an accent usually occurs because sound production has become
selective, utilizing only the speech organ positions needed for
the language or languages to which the child has been exposed;
virtually atrophying other possible sound producing positions. 
Consequently, when a learner uses the positions of language one
(L1) in speaking language two (L2) an accent results.

Live speech is so shortlived, the audible vibrations last less
than a blink of an eye, that for the learner to acquire new
sounds, he must hear these sounds over and over.  Unless the
learner is with a speaker of L2 for a major portion of the time,
he must rely on audio tapes.

Although audio tapes are an improvement over "books only" for the
learning of L2, the learner still does not have a visual model
for new sound producing positions nor does he have immediate
feedback for checking the accuracy of the new productions.

The Pygmalian Software would allow the computer to perform the
action of the human speech producing apparatus, both visually and
auditorally, and at the same time, allow the learner the opportu-
nity to replicate the computer model action for immediate feed-
back.

Proposal:

Computer Programmers interested in collaborating in the develop-
ment of this software should be capable of producing animated
visuals, and integrating these visuals with sound and biofeedback
software.  Remuneration will be co-ownership of the software and
any spin-off programs produced from the Pygmalian idea.

Martha Hale Piza
(512) 835-2196
809 Maryland Drive
Austin, TX     78758 

PLEASE do NOT respond via Usenet or email.  Ms Piza does not have an
Internet connection.  This is being posted on her behalf.
