A quasiarticulatory speech synthesizer for German language running in real time

A system for simple quasiarticulatory speech synthesis is described. It is based on an articulatory model, which is controlled by seven parameters. The synthesizer employs a stylized vocal tract model that is realized using wave digital filter techniques. It includes a self‐oscillating glottis model, voiceless excitation in the tract, damping, a nasal tract, and a radiation load that allows the simulation of lip protrusion. The synthesizer runs in real time on a signal processor. The described model was fit to natural speech using a Kalman filter algorithm. Simple rules for the synthesis of unrestricted German speech are described.