Joliage/Text-to-Speech-Software-in-Moore-Language

By using NLP (Natural Language Processing) techniques in Python, the project develops solutions to address the lack of TTS systems for the Moore Language. This technology aims to make information more accessible to non-literate individuals, thereby contributing to efforts to reduce low literacy rates in Burkina Faso. # A Text-to-Speech Software in Mooré Language **Naomie Dalhia Johanne Bambara** Master's Plan C Defense — May 2026 **Thesis Committee** - Dr. Mark Petzold — Advisor - Dr. Koffi N. Ettien — Co-advisor - Dr. Jie H. Meichsner Saint Cloud State University · Department of Computer Science --- ## Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. Burkina Faso and the Mooré Language 3. Speech Technology Landscape 4. TTS Theories and Approach Selection 5. Why Syllable Concatenation 6. Data Collection 7. System Architecture 8. Core Classes 9. Technical Problems & Solutions 10. Getting Started 11. Evaluation 12. Results 13. Limitations 14. Future Work 15. Broader Impact 16. References --- ## Introduction This project presents the **first-ever Text-to-Speech (TTS) system for the Mooré language**, spoken by approximately 8 million people worldwide. Mooré currently has no existing digital speech tools, and the adult literacy rate in Burkina Faso stands at just 41.2% (UNESCO). **Technical Approach:** - Python + NLP techniques - Syllable-level concatenative synthesis - Manual Praat annotation - Tone preservation across 3 tonal levels (high, mid, low) **Why This Matters:** - 📚 **Access to Education** — Non-literate speakers can hear educational content in their own language - 🏥 **Health Information** — Medical guidance delivered in Mooré reaches those who need it most - 🌍 **Digital Inclusion** — 8 million people gain a voice in the digital world --- ## Burkina Faso and the Mooré Language | Statistic | Value | |-----------|-------| | Mooré speakers worldwide | ~8 million | | Mossi ethnic group in Burkina Faso | 52% | | Adult literacy rate (UNESCO 2022) | 41.2% | | Female literacy rate | 32.7% | Mooré is the primary language of Ouagadougou (the capital of Burkina Faso). It has a historically oral tradition with limited written materials and no existing digital resources — no spell checkers, no machine translation, and no TTS. This project delivers the first functional TTS system for …