Looking for "language laboratory" software

English Open Chat
1

Hi all,

does someone know whether there a “language laboratory”-kind of software exists for Linux?

What I mean by that term is a piece of software that:
(a) can play a sound file (usually a pre-recorded language tape) while
(b) simultaneously record your voice (which repeats the spoken terms), in order to
(c) combine and save both into a new sound file, which can be listened to afterwards.

Since most language tapes don’t necessary leave pauses for repeating phrases, the software should probably also have
(d) a simple button to pause the sound file mentioned in (a).

If such an application doesn’t exist, does someone have a good idea how to realize this using existing applications?
And/or how I could advertise this idea so that an interested, highly talented developer would pick it up? :slight_smile:

Perhaps some of you have used a real language lab in school or at university. The concept is very simple, but the huge benefit is that it allows you to compare your own pronunciation easily to a ‘professional’ i.e. native pronunciation in order to correct mistakes etc.

2

We run an accent reduction training center. We use a program that does one better than simply comparing. Our software uses voice recognition software that works by standard deviation. When the client says the word it is marked either green or red depending on how clearly they said it.

If you type accent reduction into google, there is a product that shows up on the first page. I think it is called the K method. They have a demo of what you are looking for.

3

L2accent, thanks for the post, I took a look at the site you mentioned.

Keeping with the spirit of Linux, however, I’m rather looking for a FOSS software solution. Plus the fact that I want to use it for languages other than English.

The basic idea of using voice recognition in order to compare patterns and thereby verify pronunciation is interesting, though.

:slight_smile: