--- Forwarded Message from Mike Ledgerwood <[log in to unmask]> ---

>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
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>From: Mike Ledgerwood <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #9021.3 (!) Speech recognition software
>Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:40:33 -0600
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum   
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I hope I'm not stating the obvious, but Dragon (etc.) was created to  
help native speakers of a language and not to help FL learners.  This  
software was set up to adapt itself to a speaker's voice and oral  
facility.  Thus for foreign language usage, a non-native speaker  
could have an awful target language accent that would force the  
software to "bend over backwards" trying to adapt itself to the  
speaker.  It would try to come up with any word at all even if the FL  
speaker's voice contained little that would be understood by a TL  
user.  So, I can see a lot of frustration for an FL learner with poor  
oral skills.  Even if the software succeeded in producing  
comprehensible output, it would then support a less than desired  
level of oral language for many (most?) FL learners below the level  
of Intermediate (High?).

I think the point of FL software should be to train the speaker for  
better oral language production and not to train the software to  
support the speaker.....

Also have to admit to being sorry I spent a lot of money last year on  
Dragon (PC version) trying to help my 6th grader "write" better.   
However, his high voice timbre, quick frustration, and strong New  
York accent (ask how he is doing now in Alabama!) meant the software  
was abandoned after several hours of work.  And this was with a  
slightly non-standard native speaker of English.....

Best to all, Mike Ledgerwood.

P.S. Just a reminder that the IALLT Conf. call for proposals is now  
past.  However, those with a last minute idea might still consider  
doing a proposal.  The Program Comm. might still consider it.  I  
would love to meet many of you who contribute to this list who have  
never been to IALLT or not in a long time.

Mikle D. Ledgerwood, Ph.D.
Chair of World Languages and Cultures
Professor of French
Samford University
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on leave from the State University of New York at Stony Brook,  
2007-2009.

IALLT President-Elect


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