FORWARDED REQUEST

[Gary Toops]

Sharon Flank of Systems Research and Applications Corp. in Arlington,
Virginia, has asked me to post to SEELangs the following request she
received from Russia:

> Subject: Asking a favor
> Author:  master at stc.spb.su (MASTER BOX) at Incoming SMTP
> Date:    9/1/95 1:16 PM
>
>
> >From Sergey L.Koval
> Manager in Science
> Speech Technology Center
> Saint Petersburg, Russia
> 195265, P.O.Box 31
> Tel:(812)5324207
> Fax:(812)5323508
> E-mail:master at stc.spb.su
> Subject: Request of a favour
> Dear Sirs
>   I am scientist from St.Petersburg, Russia. I address to you for help
> to save the unique Speech Database of Russian dialects (further SDBRD).
> 1) During last more than 40 years in St.Petersburg existed Research
> Government Special Speech Center. It was a division of a big state
> corporation "Dalnyaja svyaz" (the beginning of this Center in 1945 was
> described by Solzhenitsin). This Center performed R&D and fundamental
> and applied projects, coordinated all scientific resources of the
> former USSR and Russia in interests of defence and security of the
> state in the field of speech technology. The work had no real
> financial limitations. In research and applied speech programs of that
> Center took part nearly all serious Russian speech researchers. Results
> were excellent.  But now the state speech research programs are
> stopped, the state financing is absolutely ceased. The Center is
> liquidated and its archives are annihilating. Already wiped out speech
> databases of deep divers speech, speech under stress, pathological
> speech etc.  For the time being the Speech DataBase of Russian Dialects
> exits. During more only 1 (one!) month it may be bought. Then in
> will be impossible.
>   SDBRD description
> 2) Now SDBRD is the set of thoroughly selected and linguistically
> prepared speech records for 40 different dialects of Russian (regional
> dialects and influence of languages of former USSR big republics) and 9
> foreign accents for main world languages.
>   For every region or accent there are records for 20 characteristic
> speakers, which were selected from some hundreds of speakers with this
> dialect(accent). For every speaker there is the records of 5
> minutes of speech: standard diagnostic text and spontaneous speech.
> For every dialect and accent there is linguistic passport: the
> distinguishing description for 72 linguistic axes. These axes are
> selected from preliminary list of 300 features.
>   The description is oriented for forensic expert activity. Its
> validity and effectiveness is checked up during many-years real practice
> in forensic speaker identification and attribution for many hundreds of
> real examinations.
>   In the creating of this SDBRD took part 40 Russian universities
> during 15 years. The theoretical support and main linguistic job was
> provided by Phonetics departments of St.Petersburg and Moscow
> Universities. But anywhere more such SDBRD do not exists.
>   SDBRD is now only on magnetic tapes in analog form.
> 3)If you are interested in buying of the original tapes with SDBRD
> and its description or are ready simply to help rescue it  - let me
> know as soon as possible or give an advice where to this appeal might
> be non-useless.
>   The price of SDBRD is equal $15000 U.S.  The money must be paid
> before 15 of September 1995.
>   I think the repetition of the creating such a  SDBRD could have a
> cost today $1000000 or more.
>   According to customer wishes after buying STC could in a short time
> convert SDBRD in any required digital form and do any necessary
> additional description.  (I think the cost of such a job may be not so
> big).
> 4)Some words about me. I am scientist from St.Petersburg, Russia.
> During 18 years I have been working in the speech research Center
> mentioned above. I was a head of many successful projects and research
> national programs in speech technology area. Now some leading
> specialists from that Center  organized the independent research
> company - Speech Technology Center, where I am manager in science.
> Main directions of STC activity - forensic acoustic, expert education,
> speech signal analysis and processing tools.  We have many interesting
> results in speech and language research field.  STC and I would like to
> take part in any serious speech project.  I think we can do any job
> in speech technology according to the world level.  But today to find
> the real order in speech high-technology field in Russia - is very
> heavy task.  So required financial expenses for buying of SDBRD are too
> high for us.
>   STC and I personally could guarantee the getting of SDBRD in whole
> volume.
>   If it is necessary I and STC may be recommended by some leading
> Russian speech scientists  and by official forensic criminalistic
> services.
>   May be you can find out the persons or organizations, who could help
> rescue this huge human work and unique material for speech research and
> education?
>   Hoping for your favorable attitude and fast reply.
>
>   Sincerely yours    Sergey L. Koval, Ph D, Manager in science of STC
>
>

Gary H. Toops                               TOOPS at TWSUVM.UC.TWSU.EDU
Associate Professor                         Ph (316) 689-3180
Wichita State University                    Fx (316) 689-3293
Wichita, Kansas 67260-0011 USA