A polynomial vocal tract model for speech synthesis

This paper describes an experimental system for synthesising speech via a computer model of the vocal tract. The system has been used to generate /VCV/ syllables and diphthongs. The vocal tract model is a ´ball in the mouth´ simulation that calculates formants for each setting of the seven control parameters. Computationally, it consists of a set of polynomials that can be evaluated efficiently at run time. The more lengthy calculations needed to derive geometrical shapes, area functions and then resonances for various articulatory settings are performed off line, as part of the analysis procedure that derives the polynomial formulae.