Korean Pronunciation Correction Web Application for the Hearing Impaired and Foreigners
摘要
We often subconsciously judge people based on their pronunciation. For the hearing-impaired, pronunciation may be imprecise, leading some to mistakenly equate this with lower intelligence. This misconception can discourage them from engaging in conversations. Similarly, as more foreign workers arrive in South Korea, mastering the Korean language, especially pronunciation, becomes crucial for their employment opportunities. Hearing-impaired individuals can turn to special education, and foreigners can use language programs to improve pronunciation, but these options can be costly and time-consuming. Some mobile apps allow users to record their lip movements or use AI to assess pronunciation. For instance, Google and Apple’s voice recognition technologies can transcribe inaccurate pronunciations into standard text. However, hearing-impaired individuals and foreigners need to understand how their pronunciation sounds to others and strive for natural pronunciation. The most effective way to achieve this is through feedback that compares their pronunciation to the standard. To assist with this, a web application ( https://louder.kr ) has been developed. Hearing-impaired individuals and foreigners can share audio recordings of their pronunciation, which volunteers listen to and transcribe as heard. This process helps them identify discrepancies between their pronunciation and the standard, guiding them to refine their pronunciation. With continuous practice, they can achieve more accurate pronunciation.