Speech and Language Processing

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This programme introduces students to the central concepts and the analytic techniques in speech science and language processing. It deals with how speech is produced and used in communication, looks at the inherent structure of language, and deals both with theoretical issues and with the practical skills needed to analyse and model the processes involved.

As the programme is situated at an intersection of disciplines, applicants are invited from a variety of disciplines, including engineering, computer science, linguistics, psychology, speech pathology and related areas. The programme is intended to provide a foundation for further research and has close links to related ongoing research projects in the School.

This course aims to introduce students to techniques of speech science and language processing: to proceed from this basis to more advanced study of central topics in seech science and language processing; via the dissertation component to introduce students to research in speech science and language processing.

Students take six modules and undertake a research project that is written up as a 15,000 word dissertation. The modules are taught in Michaelmas and Hilary terms, and the dissertation preparation and writing takes place in Trinity term and the long vacation (July-September). Four core modules are mandatory and two are elective options.

Core modules include:

* Formal foundations of linguistic theories;
* Computational theories of grammar and meaning;
* Laboratory phonetics and phonology; and
* Speech production, hearing and perception.

Options may be taken from the wide range of linguistics and speech science courses offered by the Centre for Language and Communication Studies, including for example:

* Advanced syntactic theory;
* Speech processing 1: spectral analysis;
* Speech processing 2: acoustic modelling;
* Phonology and the lexicon;
* Linguistic pragmatics;
* Language variation and change;
* and Corpus linguistics.

Applicants should have a good honours degree (at least an upper second or equivalent; GPA of at least 3.2).English language requirements: * IELTS: Grade 6.5 * TOEFL: 88 iBT, 230-computer based, 570 paper based * Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English: Grade C * Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: Grade C English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 80 (Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 570 TOEFL iBT® test: 88