Dynamic time warping and prosodic prominence

Abstract

In this study, an investigation on methodological issues linked with prosodic prominence rating is carried out. Our main research goal is the resolution of a particular issue related to a specific rating scale – i.e. the one resulting from the PromDrum method (Samlowski, Wagner, 2016). In this approach, namely, the rater is left free to drum as many syllabic units as perceived, thus resulting in rated material in which the number of rated units possibly does not correspond to the number of actually expected syllables. In order to solve this problem, a forced alignment algorithm is developed with the Dynamic Time Warping procedure. In this way, we are able to find the best possible alignment without subjective choices. Moreover, the procedure allows a qualitative evaluation of the rated material.