Speech Rate Meter

In the current version of SRM+ from 2021-10-11, unlike the previous SRM from 2021-04-05, a new important function is added to detect "FILLER" sounds. Its use makes it possible to assess the degree of "pollution" of the analyzed speech.

GOAL:

The SpeechRateMeter (SRM+) software is designed to measure the speech tempo as a complex prosodic component of intonation, the parameters of which are:

1) Speech rate – Rs – total speed of reading the text (calculated as the number of words per minute during the actual pronunciation time, i.e. taking into account the duration of interphrase pauses);

2) Articulation rate – Ra – phonemic stream generation rate (calculated as the number of words per minute for the total time of articulation, i.e. without taking into account the duration of interphrase pauses);

3) Pauses score – Tp – the mean duration of the inter-phrase pauses (calculated as the RMS value of the duration of all pause sections);

4) Filler score – Tf – the relative duration of "filler" vocal insertions (calculated as a ratio in pae cents of the RMS to the average-median duration of vowels

INTERFACE:

In the upper part of the main window the numerical values of tempo parameters are displayed:

- Rs - Speech Rate (wpm) - inside the blue strip

- Ra - Articulation Rate (wpm) - inside the green strip

- Rf - Filler score (%) - inside the black strip

In the middle part of the window, the values of tempo parameters are graphically shown in the form of two moving arcs of different colors: blue – Rs, green – Ra and black - Rf. The length of these arcs is normalized relative to the user-specified minimum and maximum values of these parameters.

In the lower part of the working window, the calculated numerical values of the estimate of the average duration of inter-phrase pauses and the duration of the analyzed speech segment are displayed:

- Phrase Pauses score (sec),

- Speech Duration (sec).

RECOMMENDED APPS:

The Speech Rate Meter can be useful in the following practically important situations:

• In scientific and applied research of prosodic characteristics of oral speech

• When preparing speeches and presentations for self-control and teaching the desired rate of speech;

• To improve the skills of free reading in the native and foreign languages;

• As a means of self-control to eliminate speech defects associated with various physiological disorders and diseases;

• For individual training of oral and speech skills in a number of professions such as: call center operators, radio, TV announcers, etc.;

• As a means of monitoring the rate of speech in real working conditions of call-center operators, radio and television announcers.

The Windows version of the SRM+ with User Guide are posted on the website: https://intontrainer.by and its publicly available for free download and testing.