33.1815, Support: Dutch; Computational Linguistics; Phonetics: PhD, University of Groningen

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-33-1815. Fri May 20 2022. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 33.1815, Support: Dutch; Computational Linguistics; Phonetics: PhD, University of Groningen

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Date: Fri, 20 May 2022 11:46:16
From: Martijn Wieling [m.b.wieling at rug.nl]
Subject: Dutch; Computational Linguistics; Phonetics: PhD, University of Groningen, Netherlands

 Institution/Organization: University of Groningen 
Department: Faculty of Arts / Faculty of Economics and Business / Speech Lab Groningen 
Web Address: https://speechlabgroningen.nl/ 

Level: PhD 

Duties: Research
 
Specialty Areas: Computational Linguistics; Phonetics 
 
Required Language(s): Dutch (nld)

Description:

We are looking for a PhD student with demonstrable programming skills and
interest in speech technology. The position (4 years) is fully funded with a
scholarship of EUR 2250 per month (gross).

Project description:
Recent advances of AI and speech technology have led to important steps in the
development of (social) robots. The current generation of robots has the
ability to connect with their user on a social level and to engage in spoken
interactions. One important advantage of robots is versatility in language,
which makes it possible to adapt to the language of the user. This can be a
foreign language - the robot Franny showing passengers the way at Frankfurt
Airport for instance speaks 44 languages - but also a regional language.
Speaking regional language can be an important asset in, for instance, health
and elderly care because multilingual elderly often retreat to their first,
native language, usually the one spoken in family context. Multilingual robots
may also be an asset for language instruction at schools, or can be used as a
modern interactive tool to interest pupils in the regional language.

The goal of this PhD project is to investigate whether the experience with
human-robot interactions may be improved if regional language is used.
Furthermore, the project aims to examine whether using regional language in
human-robot interactions helps in instructional settings, for instance to
activate elderly to exercise or motivate children to learn aspects of a
regional language. The project will build on a text-to-speech implementation
of a local variety of Low Saxon (“Gronings”) that is currently developed and
implemented into the commercial robot “Pepper”. The PhD student will perform
field studies in elderly care institutions and schools to explore the benefits
of using regional language for human-robot-interactions. Depending on the
expertise and interest of the candidate, it would be possible to also develop
and implement a speech recognition system for the regional language, and
integrate this in the robot.

The supervision team consists of Professors Martijn Wieling from the Center
for Language and Cognition Groningen (Speech Lab and Center for Groningen
Language and Culture at the Faculty of Arts) and Jenny van Doorn at the
Department of Marketing (Faculty of Economics and Business). The PhD student
will be enrolled in the Graduate School of Economics & Business. The student
will have an office at both faculties so the place of work can be alternated
(depending on the specific tasks).

We are looking for a PhD candidate who:
 - has a relevant master degree in for instance artificial intelligence,
computer science, speech technology, human-machine interaction or a related
field, with a strong interest in social sciences, or has a degree in social
sciences (e.g. marketing, psychology) with strong and demonstrable programming
skills
 - has excellent programming skills (Python), and a strong interest in, or
experience with, speech technology. Experience with programming robots is a
plus
 - has Dutch language skills at the conversational level, or is motivated to
learn Dutch, and has an interest in regional languages. It is not necessary to
be able to speak the regional language
 - is fluent in English (both oral and written)
 - is able and willing to work in Groningen, in an international and
interdisciplinary environment
 - is willing to participate in public engagement activities in the city and
province of Groningen (see, for example, http://www.speechlabgroningen.nl for
some examples).

For more information and application see:
https://www.rug.nl/phd-scholarships?details=00347-02S00098MP
 

Application Deadline: 06-Jun-2022 

Web Address for Applications: https://www.rug.nl/phd-scholarships?details=00347-02S00098MP 

Contact Information: 
	Prof.dr. Martijn Wieling
	m.b.wieling at rug.nl  


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