Effects of a difference in fundamental frequency in separating two sentences.

Abstract

The perceptual separation of two competing voices is easier when the voices are on different fundamental frequencies (Fos). Brokx and Nooteboom (Brokx and Nooteboom, 1982; Brokx et al., 1979) asked their subjects to recall semantically anomalous sentences played against a continuous background of speech. They used LPC analysis and resynthesis to create a constant Fo difference between the monotone target sentence and the interfering speech. As the Fo difference between the two speech streams increased so did the intelligibility of the target sentence. The word recognition rate was about 40% for equal Fos and rose roughly linearly to about 60% for a difference of three semitones.