Intelligibilite de la parole en milieu subaquatique

Gas mixture and pressure modify the spectral characteristics of diver's speech. Additionally, constraints imposed on jaw movements by wearing a facial mask affect the speech production process. The auditory feedback loop is equally concerned. Furthermore, underwater adverse working conditions are characterised by noise from different sources. As a result, divers' speech is poorly intelligible and communications between divers and surface control need to be enhanced. To this end, "voice unscramblers" are being used. However, the technological state of commercially available equipment is dated and the quality of speech remains insufficient. To help with the design, testing and qualification (NORM) of new communication devices, a bilingual (French-English) Data-base is currently being set up. It consists of phonetically balanced lists of 200 words read by 17 divers under sea and in chambers at operational levels from the surface to -300 m. These recordings will be edited, labelled and stored for further distribution on a CD-ROM.