Chapter 03.2 - Speech Communication

Question 1

Speech communication chain

Answer 1

Speech communication can be degraded if there are difficulties with
the SPEAKER,
the TRANSMISSION OF SOUND WAVES,
or the LISTENER

Designer has no control over speech errors. Some control that the speech content will be
AUDIBLE
DISTINGUISHABLE &
UNDERSTOOD

Question 2

Noise design implications

Answer 2

Human performance can be degraded under noisy conditions and can even result in permanent hearing disability

Human performance depends on the ability to distinguish a desired sound (signal) from a undesired sound (noise).

Question 3

Signal to Noise Ratio

Answer 3

A measure of the relative sound intensity of the signal or speech, to the background noise.

Speech 75DB - noise 70DB = +5DB

Question 4

Speech quality methods

Answer 4

Two methods:

1) A subject is asked to compare two transmissions
2) A subject is asked to make a category judgment of a speech signal

Question 5

Speech Intelligibility

Answer 5

The ability to recognize correctly the speech sounds when spoken

Question 6

Articulation Testing

Answer 6

Ways to measure intelligibility. It involves using a group of highly trained listeners who transcribe what they hear.

Question 7

Educated Expectation

Answer 7

Schema we think is most appropriate for the particular activity. The schema helps us understand the message

Question 8

Familiarity and length of words

Answer 8

Vocabulary size, fewer is the better

Word length: longer is better

Question 9

Word context

Answer 9

In context is better than a isolated word