2012 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 101-108
In high-stake testing, it is critically important to secure the content of the tests. Aiming to disguise the identity of the speaker in listening tests, this study applied digital voice-transformation technology to change types of voices. Experimental listening comprehension tests were constructed using converted voices. There were two lines of experimental conditions; that is, low-pitch speech condition that reminds persons of large build and high-pitch speech condition that reminds persons of small stature. The test scores in these two conditions were compared with the scores with the original voices. There was no significant difference among them. The results suggest that this digital voice conversion technology is applicable to be used for various purposes including securing the speakers’ identities although there are further possibilities to improve the quality of the converted voices.
