An integrated approach for teaching speech spectrogram analysis to engineering students

Abstract

Spectrogram analysis is a vital skill for learning speech acoustics. Spectrograms are necessary for visualizing cause-effect relationships between speech articulator movements and the resulting sound produced. However, many interpretation techniques needed to read spectrograms are counterintuitive to engineering students who have been taught to use more rigid mathematical formulas. As a result, spectrogram reading is often challenging for these students who do not have prior background in acoustic phonetics. In this paper, a structured, inclusive framework for teaching spectrogram reading to students of engineering backgrounds is presented. Findings from the implementation of these teaching methods in undergraduate and graduate engineering courses at University of California, Los Angeles are also unveiled.