A new algorithm for the alignment of phonetic sequences

Abstract

Alignment of phonetic sequences is a necessary step in many applications in computational phonology. After discussing various approaches to phonetic alignment, I present a new algorithm that combines a number of techniques developed for sequence comparison with a scoring scheme for computing phonetic similarity on the basis of multivalued features. The algorithm performs better on cognate alignment, in terms of accuracy and efficiency, than other algorithms reported in the literature. 1 Introduction Identification of the corresponding segments in sequences of phones is a necessary step in many applications in both diachronic and synchronic phonology. Usually we are interested in aligning sequences that represent forms that are related in some way: a pair of cognates, or the underlying and the surface forms of a word, or the intended and the actual pronunciations of a word. Alignment of phonetic sequences presupposes transcription of sounds into discrete phonetic segments, and so diff...