Title:
AȽȻEȽ SĆȺ - Creation of text-to speech synthesizer and verb/root word conjugator for SENĆOŦEN
Agreement Value:
$201,250.00
Agreement Date:
Jun 1, 2022 - May 31, 2025
Description:
We will create a text to speech synthesizer (TTS) and verb/root word conjugator for SENĆOŦEN. The development of a TTS provides an opportunity to hugely increase our ability to mobilize many of the resources we have created for our SENĆOŦEN immersion program including read along books, on-line lessons, grammar book, and the ongoing development of a SENĆOŦEN literature. The development of a verb/root word based conjugator for SENĆOŦEN will play a significant role in filling gaps in the availability/accessibility of online language resources such as the grammar developed by our language team with support of Dr. Timothy Montler. TTS synthesis is valuable in this context because it will provide learners access to standard pronunciation of words in environments where immediate access to a fluent speaker may be difficult. Because of the polysynthetic nature of SENĆOŦEN, it is impossible to create separate recordings of every word, whereas appropriately designed TTS synthesizer can produce audio for any words the verb/root word conjugator can generate.
Organization:
National Research Council Canada
Expected Results:
In the short term, anticipated outcomes will be strengthened collaborations across industry, academia, and government to support research excellence. In the medium term, anticipated outcomes will be the development of new and potentially disruptive technologies with collaborators. In the long term, find collaborative solutions to public policy challenges and create stronger innovation systems.
Location:
Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, CA V8M 1R3
Reference Number:
172-2022-2023-Q2-992625
Report Type:
Grants and Contributions
Recipient Business Number:
000000000
Recipient's Legal Name:
W̱SÁNEĆ School Board
Federal Riding Name:
Saanich--Gulf Islands
Federal Riding Number:
59027
Program:
Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program – Ideation Fund
Program Purpose:
The Ideation Fund is intended to encourage, test and validate transformative research ideas generated by teams of NRC scientific personnel and external collaborators with complementary capabilities, acting as a demonstration phase for a continually-evolving suite of research and development (R&D) deliverables at the NRC. The fund supports exploratory research through two mechanisms: the New Beginnings Initiative and the Small Teams Initiative.