JP2008058678A - Voice output device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a voice output device and a voice output program enabling a user to achieve more effective result in learning irregular pronunciation or pronunciation with changed accent in the words and phrases used in an example sentence. <P>SOLUTION: In an electronic dictionary device 1, for example, a word "autonomous" in an example sentence "You're in good ... " is designated by user's operation as a word to be registered. After the word to be registered "autonomous" and the example sentence "You're in good ... " containing the word designated to be registered are made to associate with each other and stored (Figs.(a)-(c)), the example sentence "You're in good ... " containing the registered word is set to be the voice output object sentence (Fig.(d)). Then, when the registered word "autonomous" is designated by user's operation as the word to be reproduced, the example sentence "You're in good ... " containing the registered word and stored in association with the registered word is voice output. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio output device and an audio output program that output audio.

  Conventionally, in an information display device such as an electronic dictionary device, words and example sentences can be output from the viewpoint of allowing a user to learn pronunciation (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  By the way, pronunciation of words such as words and phrases in foreign languages such as English may become irregular pronunciations instead of standard pronunciations of the phrases themselves, depending on how they are used in the sentence. In addition, depending on the importance of a word or phrase in an example sentence, the word or phrase may be pronounced clearly large or vaguely small.

For example, if a word starting with a vowel continues immediately after a word ending with a consonant, the latter word in the sentence is connected to the sound, and the pronunciation of the first vowel part is changed by a so-called liaison. Pronunciation. In addition, the English article “the” is not a standard pronunciation (≈ “The”) but an irregular pronunciation (≈ “Di”) when a noun that begins with a vowel follows in the sentence. Further, the pronoun “it” has different pronunciation strengths depending on the importance in the sentence.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-296060 JP 11-338862 A

  However, in the electronic dictionary devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the example sentence to be output is not necessarily associated with the phrase for which pronunciation is to be learned in the example sentence. For this reason, the user may not be able to learn irregular pronunciations of phrases or pronunciations whose strength changes in relation to individual example sentences.

  The subject of this invention is providing the audio | voice output apparatus and audio | voice output program which can heighten the learning effect about the irregular pronunciation of the phrase used in the example sentence, and the pronunciation from which the strength changed.

The invention according to claim 1 is an audio output device (for example, the electronic dictionary device 1 of FIG. 1),
Voice output means for outputting a plurality of example sentences (for example, voice output unit 3 in FIG. 2; steps S25 and S27 in FIG. 7);
Registered word designating means (for example, the input unit 5 in FIG. 2; step S16 in FIG. 6) for designating any word or phrase in the plurality of example sentences as a registered word by a user operation;
Registered word example sentence storage means (for example, registered word example sentence storage table 80 in FIG. 2; FIG. 2) that stores the registered word and the registered word-containing example sentence for which the registered word is designated among the plurality of example sentences. 6 step S17),
Reproduction target word designating means (for example, the input unit 5 in FIG. 2; step S21 in FIG. 7) for designating any of the registered words stored in the registered word example sentence storage means as a reproduction target word by a user operation;
Voice output control means (for example, the CPU 6 and the voice output program 83 in FIG. 2) that causes the voice output means to output the registered word-containing example sentences associated with the reproduction target words and stored in the registered word example sentence storage means. Step S27) in FIG.
It is characterized by providing.

  Here, to designate any word or phrase in the example sentence, one word may be designated, or a plurality of words constituting a phrase or idiom may be designated.

The invention according to claim 2 is the audio output device according to claim 1,
The audio output control means includes
A registered word voice output control unit (for example, the CPU 6 and the voice output program 83 in FIG. 2; step S25 in FIG. 7) that causes the voice output unit to output only the reproduction target word in the registered word-containing example sentence. It is characterized by.

The invention described in claim 3 is the audio output device according to claim 2,
The audio output control means includes
Output order control means (for example, the CPU 6 and the voice output program 83 in FIG. 2; FIG. 2), which causes the voice output means to output the reproduction target word as a voice and then outputs the registered word-containing example sentence corresponding to the reproduction target word 7 steps S25 and S27).

The invention according to claim 4 is the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The registered word designation means includes:
Output phrase specifying means (for example, the input unit 5 in FIG. 2; FIGS. 15B to 15D) that specifies, as the registered word, a phrase that has been output by the voice output means when operated by the user. It is characterized by that.

Invention of Claim 5 is an audio output device as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
It has a recording means to record external audio,
The registered word designation means includes:
It has a recorded phrase designating means (for example, input unit 5 in FIG. 2; step T13 in FIG. 13) for designating a phrase recorded by the recording means at the time of user operation as the registered word.

The invention according to claim 6 is the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Example sentence display means for displaying each example sentence (for example, display unit 2 in FIG. 2; step S15 in FIG. 6),
The registered word designation means includes:
It has a display phrase designating means (for example, the input unit 5 in FIG. 2; step S16 in FIG. 6) for designating a word or phrase in the example sentence displayed by the example sentence display means as the registered word by a user operation.

The invention according to claim 7 is the audio output device according to claim 6,
The example sentence display means includes:
The registered word-containing example sentence is displayed during voice output by the stored example sentence voice output means, and each word of the displayed registered word-containing example sentence is identified and displayed at the voice output timing of the word.

  Here, to identify and display a word, the word may be displayed in reverse video, may be displayed in a blinking manner, or may be displayed with an underline.

The invention according to claim 8 is the audio output device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein
The example sentence display means includes:
Data conversion means (for example, the CPU 6 and the voice recognition program 82 in FIG. 2; step S12 in FIG. 6) for converting the voice data of the example sentence into text data;
Text data display means for displaying example sentences based on the text data (for example, display unit 2 in FIG. 2; step S15 in FIG. 6);
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 9 is the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Dictionary information storage means (for example, dictionary database 84a in FIG. 2) for storing explanation information in association with each headword;
Explanation information display means (for example, the display unit 2 in FIG. 2; step S18 in FIG. 6) for displaying the explanation information of the headword corresponding to the reproduction target word;
It is characterized by providing.

The invention according to claim 10 is an audio output program (for example, the audio output program 83 of FIG. 2),
A computer (for example, the electronic dictionary device 1 in FIG. 1)
A voice output function for outputting a plurality of example sentences (for example, steps S25 and S27 in FIG. 7);
A registered word designating function (for example, step S16 in FIG. 6) for designating any word or phrase in the plurality of example sentences as a registered word by a user operation;
A registered word example sentence storage function (for example, step S17 in FIG. 6) that stores the registered word in association with a registered word-containing example sentence that has been designated by the registered word among the plurality of example sentences;
A reproduction target word designating function (for example, step S21 in FIG. 7) for designating any of the registered words stored by the registered word example sentence storage function as a reproduction target word by a user operation;
A voice output control function (for example, step S27 in FIG. 7) that causes the voice output function to output the registered word-containing example sentence associated with the reproduction target word and stored in the registered word example sentence storage function;
It is characterized by realizing.

  According to the first and tenth aspects of the present invention, any word or phrase in a plurality of example sentences is designated as a registered word by a user operation, and the registered word and a designation of the registered word among a plurality of example sentences are received. The registered word-containing example sentence is stored in association with each other, and the registered word-containing example sentence stored in association with the registered word designated as the reproduction target word by the user operation is output in voice. Contained example sentences can be stored and used as audio output targets. Therefore, even if the registered word is not a standard pronunciation depending on how it is used in the sentence, but it becomes an irregular pronunciation or a pronunciation with a change in strength, the example sentence that is the target of voice output is a word or phrase. Unlike conventional cases that are not associated with each other, this registered word can be reliably associated with an example sentence and used for learning, so that the irregular pronunciation and strength of the registered word used in the example sentence changed. It can enhance the learning effect on pronunciation.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the registered word-containing example sentence being output in voice, only the reproduction target word in the registered word-containing example sentence is output in voice, so that the registered word as the reproduction target word The learning effect can be further enhanced for irregular pronunciations and pronunciations with changed strengths.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the registered word-containing example sentence is output after the reproduction target word is output as voice, the irregular pronunciation of the registered word as the reproduction target word and the pronunciation with changed strength The learning effect can be further enhanced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the phrase that has been voice output by the voice output means at the time of user operation is specified as a registered word, so that the registered word can be specified reliably.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the word / phrase recorded by the recording means at the time of user operation is designated as the registered word, the registered word can be specified with certainty.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the phrase in the example sentence displayed by the example sentence display means is designated as a registered word by a user operation, so that the registered word can be specified with certainty.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the registered word-containing example sentence is displayed during the voice output, and each word in the displayed registered word-containing example sentence is identified and displayed at the voice output timing of the word. The learning effect can be further enhanced with respect to the irregular pronunciation of the registered word as the target word and the pronunciation with changed strength.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the voice data of the example sentence is converted into the text data, and the example sentence is displayed based on the text data. Therefore, even if the example sentence exists as the voice data, The same effect as that of the invention described in item 7 can be obtained.

  According to the invention described in claim 9, since the explanation information of the headword corresponding to the reproduction target word is displayed, when the phonetic symbol of the headword is included in the explanation information, the phonetic symbol and the irregularity are displayed. The pronunciation can be compared with the pronunciation with a change in strength and strength, so that the learning effect can be further enhanced for the pronunciation with anomalous pronunciation and with a change in strength.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of an electronic dictionary device to which an audio output device according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Appearance configuration]
FIG. 1A is a perspective external view of the electronic dictionary device 1 in the present embodiment.
As shown in this figure, the electronic dictionary device 1 includes a display 10, a speaker 11, a microphone 12, and a key group 13.

  The display 10 is a part that displays various data such as characters and codes according to the operation of the key group 13 by the user, and is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an ELD (Electronic Luminescent Display), or the like.

The speaker 11 is a part that outputs a sound of a headword or an example sentence according to the operation of the key group 13 by the user.
The microphone 12 is a part that collects external sounds such as a read-out sound by the user and an output sound by an external device, and is integrated with the speaker 11 in the present embodiment.

  The key group 13 has various keys for the user to operate the electronic dictionary device 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1B, the key group 13 includes a translation / decision key 13b, a character key 13c, a cursor key 13e, a shift key 13f, a return key 13g, and a voice output key 13h. And a recording key 13i and the like.

  The translation / decision key 13b is a key used for executing a search, determining a headword, and the like. The character key 13c is a key used for inputting characters by the user, and includes “A” to “Z” keys in the present embodiment.

  The cursor key 13e is a key used for moving a cursor indicated by reverse display or the like in the display 10. The shift key 13f is a key used when a Japanese word is set as a search target. The return key 13g is a key used when returning to the previously displayed screen.

  The voice output key 13h is a key used for outputting a headword or an example sentence by voice. The recording key 13i is a key used when recording external sound.

[Internal configuration]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electronic dictionary device 1.
As shown in this figure, the electronic dictionary device 1 includes a display unit 2, an audio output unit 3, a recording unit 4, an input unit 5, a CPU 6, a RAM 7, and a flash ROM 8.

  The display unit 2 includes the display 10 described above, and displays various information on the display 10 based on a display signal input from the CPU 6.

  The audio output unit 3 includes the speaker 11 described above, and causes the speaker 11 to reproduce audio data based on an audio output signal input from the CPU 6.

  The recording unit 4 includes the above-described microphone 12 and records voice collected by the microphone 12 based on a recording signal input from the CPU 6 to create voice data.

  The input unit 5 includes the key group 13 described above, and outputs a signal corresponding to the pressed key to the CPU 6.

  The CPU 6 executes processing based on a predetermined program in accordance with an input instruction, performs an instruction to each function unit, data transfer, and the like, and comprehensively controls the electronic dictionary device 1. . Specifically, the CPU 6 reads various programs stored in the flash ROM 8 in accordance with an operation signal or the like input from the input unit 5 and executes processing according to the program. Then, the CPU 6 stores the processing result in the RAM 7 and appropriately outputs a signal for displaying and outputting the processing result to the display unit 2 and the audio output unit 3 to display and output the corresponding contents. .

  The flash ROM 8 is a memory that stores programs and data for realizing various functions of the electronic dictionary device 1. In the present embodiment, the flash ROM 8 stores a registered word example sentence storage table 80, a dictionary search program 81, a voice recognition program 82, a voice output program 83 according to the present invention, a dictionary database group 84, and the like. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the registered word example sentence storage table 80 includes registered words set in later-described audio output processing (see FIGS. 5 to 7) and example sentences containing the registered words (hereinafter, registered word-containing example sentences). More specifically, example sentence voice data of the registered word-containing example sentence as a whole and a plurality of sound-separated voice data obtained by dividing the example sentence voice data for each syllable with respect to the registered word Among the sound-separated speech data, the registered word speech data corresponding to the registered word is associated with the text data of the entire registered word-containing example sentence.

  The dictionary search program 81 is a program for causing the CPU 6 to execute a conventionally known dictionary search process, that is, a process for searching and displaying explanatory information corresponding to a designated headword designated by a user operation.

  The voice recognition program 82 is a program for causing the CPU 6 to execute a process of recognizing each word expressed in the form of voice data and converting it into text. Note that a conventionally known process can be used as such a process.

  The audio output program 83 is a program for causing the CPU 6 to execute an audio output process (see FIGS. 5 to 7) described later.

  The dictionary database group 84 has at least one type of dictionary database. In the present embodiment, the dictionary database group 84 has a dictionary database 84a of “G * US English-Japanese Dictionary”.

  The dictionary database 84a stores, for example, a plurality of headwords and explanatory information that explains the headwords in detail, as shown in an example in FIG. Here, the explanation information includes an accent of the headword and an example sentence including the headword. The dictionary database 84a stores voice data for standard pronunciation of headwords and compressed voice data corresponding to at least one example sentence.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 2 described above, the RAM 7 is a memory that temporarily holds various programs executed by the CPU 6, data related to the execution of these programs, and the like. An utterance storage area 71 is provided.

  In the search target headword storage area 71, designated headwords specified by a user operation are stored as targets for dictionary lookup when dictionary search processing is executed.

[Audio output processing]
Next, the operation of the electronic dictionary device 1 will be described. 5 to 7 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the audio output process in which the CPU 6 reads out the audio output program 83 from the flash ROM 8 and executes it.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5, when the recording key 13i is operated by the user, the CPU 6 performs an example sentence registration process (step S1).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the CPU 6 creates an example sentence voice data by recording an external voice such as a reading voice by the user (step S11), and executes the voice recognition program 82 to execute the example sentence. Is created (step S12), and then the example sentence speech data is divided into syllables based on the text data, thereby creating sound-separated speech data (step S13).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when an example sentence “You're in good condition...” Is input by external voice, after the example sentence voice data and text data are created (steps S11 and S12), the sound-separated voice data Is created (step S13). A conventionally known method can be used as a method of dividing the example sentence speech data for each syllable.

  Next, the CPU 6 stores the created text data, example sentence voice data, and sound break voice data in association with each other in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 (step S14), and displays the example sentence 10 based on the text data. (Step S15).

  For example, when the text data of FIG. 8 and the like are stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80, as shown in FIG. 9A, the example sentence “You're in good condition. It is displayed on the display 10.

  Next, when any word in the displayed example sentence is designated as a registered word by operating the cursor key 13e, the translation / decision key 13b, etc. (step S16), the CPU 6 makes the sound separated speech generated in step S13. After detecting the registered word speech data corresponding to the registered word in the data, the registered word and the registered word speech data are associated with the text data, the example sentence speech data, and the sound break speech data in the registered word example sentence storage table 80. Is stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 (step S17). When specifying registered words, a plurality of words may be specified by operating the shift key 13f together with the cursor key 13e.

  Then, the CPU 6 executes the dictionary search program 81 to search for the explanation information of the headword corresponding to the registered word and display it on the display 10 (step S18), and to output the voice output mark for the non-default example sentence M1 (hereinafter referred to as an additional voice mark) M1 (see FIG. 9D) is displayed on the display 10 (step S19), and the example sentence registration process is terminated.

  For example, from the state shown in FIG. 9A, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, the word “autonomous” in the example sentence “You're in good condition. (Step S16), as shown in FIG. 9D, the explanation information of the headword “autonomous” and the additional voice mark M1 are displayed on the display 10 (Steps S18 and S19).

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 6 performs a reproduction process (step S2).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, when a registered word stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 is input and selected by a user operation as a designated headword for dictionary lookup (step S21), the CPU 6 Causes the display information to be displayed on the display 10 by executing the dictionary search program 81 (step S22), and searches the registered word example sentence storage table 80 for a registered word corresponding to the found word, After setting the retrieved registered word as a reproduction target word, the registered word-containing example sentence including the reproduction target word and the additional voice mark M1 are displayed together on the display 10 (step S23).

  In the dictionary search process according to the present embodiment, the CPU 6 reads headwords in order from the dictionary database 84a with the headword that matches the input designated headword first, and lists them on the display 10. Display. Further, the CPU 6 highlights the head word in the head word list, and displays the explanation information of the head word designated by the reverse display on the display 10 in a region different from the head word list. . When any headword is specified from the headword list by operating the cursor key 13e, the translation / decision key 13b, etc., the CPU 6 causes the display 10 to display the explanation information of the headword on the full screen. .

  Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 10A, the registered word “get out of” is stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 in association with the example sentence “get out of here.” When the headwords “get”, “out”, and “of” are input by the operation (step S21), the headwords that coincide with the headwords “get”, “out”, and “of” are listed. The explanation information of the headword “get out of O” designated by the reverse display is displayed as a preview. Also, a registered word “get out of” corresponding to the headword is set as a reproduction target word, and a registered word containing example sentence “get out of here.” Containing the reproduction target word “get out of” is displayed on the display 10. It is displayed on the upper right (step S23). Then, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the headword “get out of O” is specified from the headword list, the explanation information of the headword “get out of O” is displayed in full screen. (Step S22).

  Similarly, for example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the registered word “it” is stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 in association with the example sentence “I see. I got it.” When the headword “it” is input by the operation (step S21), headwords that coincide with the headword “it” are displayed in a list, and the headword “it” designated by the reverse display is displayed. Explanation information is displayed as a preview. Also, a registered word “it” corresponding to the headword is set as a reproduction target word, and a registered word containing example sentence “I see. I got it.” Containing this reproduction target word “it” is displayed on the upper right of the display 10. It is displayed (step S23). Then, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the headword “it” is designated from the headword list, the explanation information of the headword “it” is displayed on the full screen (step S22).

  In FIGS. 10 and 11, underlines attached to “get out of” and “it” in the registered word-containing example sentence indicate that “get out of” and “it” are registered words. .

  Next, when the voice output key 13h is operated by the user with the cursor positioned on the additional voice mark M1 (step S24), the CPU 6 registers the entire registered word-containing example sentence on the display 10 in a registered state. Only the word to be reproduced in the word-containing example sentence is output as a voice based on the registered word voice data (step S25).

  Next, when the user operates the voice output key 13h again (step S26), the CPU 6 outputs the entire registered word-containing example sentence based on the example sentence voice data (step S27) and is displayed on the display 10. Each word in the registered word-containing example sentence is identified and displayed at the sound output timing.

  For example, when the audio output key 13h is operated once from the state shown in FIG. 10B (step S24), reproduction in the registered word containing example sentence “get out of here.” As shown in FIG. 10C. Only the target word “get out of” is output as a sound (step S25). When the voice output key 13h is operated again (step S26), as shown in FIG. 12, the entire registered word-containing example sentence is output as a voice (step S27), and each word in the registered word-containing example sentence is displayed. Is displayed in an inverted manner at the voice output timing of the word. In FIG. 12, the sound output from the speaker 11 is indicated by a balloon F.

  Similarly, when the voice output key 13h is operated once from the state shown in FIG. 11B (step S24), as shown in FIG. 11C, the registered word-containing example sentence “I see. I got it” . ”Is output as a sound (step S25), and when it is operated twice (step S26), the entire registered word-containing example sentence is output as a sound (step S27), and the registered word Each word in the contained example sentence is identified and displayed by reverse display at the voice output timing of the word.

  Then, after completing the reproduction process, the CPU 6 ends the audio output process as shown in FIG.

  According to the electronic dictionary device 1 described above, as shown in steps S16 and S17 in FIG. 6, steps S21 and S27 in FIG. 7, and FIGS. This registered word is stored in association with the registered word-containing example sentence for which the registered word has been designated among a plurality of example sentences. The registered word is designated as a reproduction target word by a user operation. Since the registered word-containing example sentence stored in association with each other is output as a voice, the registered word-containing example sentence can be stored in association with the registered word and set as a voice output target. Therefore, even if the registered word is not a standard pronunciation depending on how it is used in the sentence, but it becomes an irregular pronunciation or a pronunciation that changes in strength, the example sentence to be output as a word or phrase Unlike conventional cases that are not associated with each other, this registered word can be reliably associated with an example sentence and used for learning, so that the irregular pronunciation or strength change of the registered word used in the example sentence The learning effect can be enhanced for the pronunciation.

  Further, as shown in steps S25 and S27 of FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, after the reproduction target word is output in speech, the registered word-containing example sentence is output in speech. It is possible to further enhance the learning effect of the anomalous pronunciation and the pronunciation with changed strength.

  Further, as shown in step S27 of FIG. 7 and FIG. 12, the registered word-containing example sentence is displayed during the voice output, and each word in the displayed registered word-containing example sentence is identified at the voice output timing of the word. Since it is displayed, the learning effect can be further enhanced with respect to the irregular pronunciation of the registered word as the reproduction target word and the pronunciation whose strength has changed.

  Further, as shown in step S22 of FIG. 7 and FIGS. 9 to 12, the explanation information of the headword corresponding to the reproduction target word is displayed, and the explanation information includes the phonetic symbol of the headword. The standard pronunciation indicated by the phonetic symbols can be compared with the irregular pronunciation and the pronunciation with changed strength. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, in the dictionary database 84a, the voice data about the standard pronunciation of the headword is stored in association with the explanation information. You can compare pronunciation and pronunciation with changed strength. Therefore, the learning effect can be further enhanced with respect to irregular pronunciations and pronunciations whose strengths have changed.

  Also, as shown in step S16 of FIG. 6 and FIG. 9, the phrase in the example sentence displayed on the display 10 is designated as a registered word by a user operation, so that the registered word can be specified reliably.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the electronic dictionary device in the second embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2 described above, the electronic dictionary device 1A in the present embodiment includes a flash ROM 8A, and the flash ROM 8A stores an audio output program 83A according to the present invention.

  The audio output program 83A is a program for causing the CPU 6 to execute audio output processing (see FIGS. 5, 13, and 7) described later.

  Next, the operation of the electronic dictionary device 1A will be described. 5, 13 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the audio output process in which the CPU 6 reads out and executes the audio output program 83A from the flash ROM 8A. The operation of the electronic dictionary device 1A is different from the operation of the electronic dictionary device 1 only in the example sentence registration process (see FIG. 5), and therefore only the example sentence registration process will be described below.

  In the example sentence registration process according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, first, the CPU 6 starts to create example sentence voice data by recording external voice (step T11) and operates the translation / decision key 13b. To determine whether or not a registered word is specified (step T12). If it is determined that a registered word is not specified (step T12; No), the process proceeds to step T14 described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step T12 that the registered word is designated (step T12; Yes), the CPU 6 uses the word / phrase recorded at the designated timing by the operation of the translation / decision key 13b as the registered word. Set (step T13). When specifying registered words, a plurality of words may be specified by continuously pressing the translation / decision key 13b.

  Next, the CPU 6 determines whether or not the recording of the external sound has been completed (step T14), and if it is determined that the recording has not ended (step T14; No), the process proceeds to the above-described step T12. .

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step T14 that the recording of the external voice is completed (step T14; Yes), the CPU 6 recognizes the external voice and creates text data of the example sentence (step T15).

  Next, the CPU 6 divides the example sentence voice data into syllables based on the text data to create the sound break voice data (step T16), and then corresponds to the registered word in the created sound break voice data. The registered word voice data is detected and stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 in association with the registered word, registered word voice data, text data, example sentence voice data, and sound breaker voice data (step T17).

  Then, the CPU 6 displays an example sentence on the display 10 based on the text data (step T18), and ends the example sentence registration process.

  According to the electronic dictionary device 1A described above, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the electronic dictionary device 1 in the first embodiment, as well as a user operation as shown in step T13 of FIG. Since the words and phrases recorded at the time are designated as registered words, the registered words can be surely designated.

  The embodiments to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the reproduction process, it has been described that the voice output is executed by operating the voice output key 13h in a state where the explanation information of the designated headword is displayed by the dictionary search process (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 14A, a list of registered words in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 is displayed on the display 10 based on a user operation, and the registered word is selected from the registered word list, and the voice output key 13h. The voice output may be executed by operating. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the name of the dictionary database 84a in which the description information is stored is appended to each registered word in the registered word list. When the enter key 13b or the like is operated, it is preferable to search the dictionary database 84a for the explanation information of the registered word designated by the reverse display, and to display the preview on the display 10 in a different area from the registered word list.

  Further, although the voice data has been described as being stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 and the dictionary database 84a, it may be stored in another storage area. In this case, only the address of the voice data is stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80 and the dictionary database 84a.

  In addition, it has been described that the recorded voice data of the external voice is associated with the registered word and stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80, but the voice data stored by default in the dictionary database 84a or the like is associated with the registered word. In addition, it may be stored in the registered word example sentence storage table 80.

  In the first embodiment, the registered word is set from the example sentences displayed on the display 10. However, as shown in FIG. 15, the translation / decision key 13b or the like is operated during the example sentence reproduction. By doing so, it is also possible to set a phrase being reproduced at the operation timing as a registered word. In this case, the phrase that has been output as a voice when the user operates is designated as a registered word, so that the registered word can be specified with certainty. Here, FIG. 15 illustrates the case where “get out of” is set as a registered word in the example sentence “get out of here.”, And the sound output from the speaker 11 is indicated by a balloon F. ing.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic dictionary apparatus to which the audio | voice output apparatus concerning this invention is applied, (a) is a general-view figure, (b) is a partial top view. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the electronic dictionary apparatus to which the audio | voice output apparatus concerning this invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a registration word example sentence storage table. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a dictionary database. It is a flowchart which shows an audio | voice output process. It is a flowchart which shows an example sentence registration process. It is a flowchart which shows a reproduction | regeneration process. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the process which produces example sentence audio | voice data, text data, and sound-breaking audio | voice data from an external audio | voice. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a flowchart which shows an example sentence registration process. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display. It is a figure which shows the display content of a display.

Explanation of symbols

1,1A Electronic dictionary device (voice output device)
2. Display section (example sentence display means, text data display means, explanation information display means)
3. Audio output unit (audio output means)
5 Input section (registered word designating means, reproduction target word designating means, output word designating means,
Recording phrase designation means, display phrase designation means)
6 CPU (voice output control means, registered word voice output control means,
Output order control means, data conversion means)
80 Registered word example sentence storage table (registered word example sentence storage means)
82 Voice recognition program (data conversion means)
83, 83A voice output program 84a dictionary database (dictionary information storage means)

Claims (10)

A voice output means for outputting a plurality of example sentences;
Registered word designating means for designating any word or phrase in the plurality of example sentences as a registered word by a user operation;
Registered word example sentence storage means for storing the registered word in association with a registered word-containing example sentence that has received the designation of the registered word among the plurality of example sentences;
Reproduction target word designating means for designating any of the registered words stored in the registered word example sentence storage means as a reproduction target word by a user operation;
Voice output control means for causing the voice output means to output the registered word-containing example sentence associated with the reproduction target word and stored in the registered word example sentence storage means;
An audio output device comprising: The audio output device according to claim 1,
The audio output control means includes
An audio output apparatus comprising: a registered word audio output control unit that causes the audio output unit to output only the reproduction target word in the registered word-containing example sentence. The audio output device according to claim 2,
The audio output control means includes
An audio output apparatus comprising: an output order control unit that causes the audio output unit to output the reproduction target word as audio and then outputs the registered word-containing example sentence corresponding to the reproduction target word as audio. In the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The registered word designation means includes:
An audio output device comprising: an output phrase designating unit that designates, as the registered word, a phrase that has been voice output by the voice output unit when operated by a user. In the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It has a recording means to record external audio,
The registered word designation means includes:
An audio output device comprising recording phrase specifying means for specifying, as the registered word, a phrase recorded by the recording means when operated by a user. In the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An example sentence display means for displaying each example sentence is provided,
The registered word designation means includes:
An audio output device comprising display phrase designating means for designating a word in an example sentence displayed by the example sentence display means as the registered word by a user operation. The audio output device according to claim 6, wherein
The example sentence display means includes:
The registered word-containing example sentence is displayed during the voice output by the stored example sentence voice output means, and each word of the displayed registered word-containing example sentence is identified and displayed at the voice output timing of the word. Output device. The audio output device according to claim 6 or 7,
The example sentence display means includes:
Data conversion means for converting voice data of example sentences into text data;
Text data display means for displaying example sentences based on the text data;
An audio output device comprising: In the audio output device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
Dictionary information storage means for storing explanation information in association with each headword;
Explanation information display means for displaying the explanation information of the headword corresponding to the reproduction target word;
An audio output device comprising: On the computer,
A voice output function for outputting a plurality of example sentences;
A registered word designating function for designating any word or phrase in the plurality of example sentences as a registered word by a user operation;
A registered word example sentence storage function that associates and stores the registered word and a registered word-containing example sentence that is designated by the registered word among the plurality of example sentences;
A reproduction target word designating function for designating any of the registered words stored by the registered word example sentence storage function as a reproduction target word by a user operation;
An audio output control function for causing the audio output function to output the registered word-containing example sentence associated with the reproduction target word and stored in the registered word example sentence storage function;
An audio output program characterized by realizing the above.

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