Developing a scoring algorithm for automatic pronunciation assessment of modern Greek

Abstract

In recent years, renewed focus has fallen on pronunciation; the development of pronunciation skills is now considered an important component of communicative competence. Pronunciation assessment and the provision of pertinent feedback have become more or less standard features within Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL). In this paper we will present the features and technologies deployed for the acquisition of Greek phonetics in a courseware for English-speaking adult learners of Greek; in the light of certain limitations of this courseware regarding pronunciation assessment, we will describe a scoring algorithm for automatic pronunciation assessment of Modern Greek which may address these shortcomings. © 2011 Taylor & Francis