Perceptual evaluation of natural and synthesized speech with prosodic focus in Mandarin production of American learners

Natural and synthesized speech in L2 Mandarin produced by American English learners was evaluated by native Mandarin speakers to identify focus status and rate the naturalness of the speech. The results reveal that natural speech was recognized and rated better than synthesized speech, early learners' speech better than late learners' speech, focused sentences better than no-focus sentences, and initial focus and medial focus better than final focus. Tones of in-focus words interacted with focus status of the sentence and speaker group.