Weaving Voice into Material Intelligence: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Speech-Driven Textile Systems for Enhancing Tonal Literacy among Youth in Southeast Nigeria

International audience In West African educational settings, digital literacy is increasingly recognized as a foundational skill for both linguistic and academic success. This study investigated the pedagogical and cognitive implications of speech-driven textile systems for enhancing tonal literacy among youth populations in Southeast Nigeria. Amid the increasing dominance of globalized communication forms, indigenous tonal structures are becoming progressively marginalized, particularly among younger generations. A quasi-experimental design was adopted involving 600 secondary school students drawn from Abia, Ebonyi, and Anambra States. Participants were assigned to control and experimental groups, with the latter engaging in textile-based learning interfaces capable of real-time speech-to-pattern translation, capturing pitch, duration, and intonation contours. Pre-test and post-test assessments measured tonal discrimination, pronunciation accuracy, and auditory memory. Results indicated that the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher post-test scores (M = 78.46, SD = 8.21) compared to the control group (M = 62.13, SD = 9.04). Analysis of Variance revealed a statistically significant effect of the intervention, F (1,598) = 132.57, p < 0.001, while Analysis of Covariance, controlling for pre-test differences, confirmed the robustness of the effect, F (1,597) = 118.34, p<0.001, η² = 0.17, indicating a moderate effect size. Qualitative findings from classroom observations and teacher interviews revealed heightened learner engagement, increased cultural curiosity, and improved expressive confidence among participants exposed to the system. The study concludes that embedding speech-responsive material systems within learning environments provides an innovative and effective pathway for revitalizing indigenous tonal systems. It recommends integration into regional educational curricula and further development of scalable, culturally adaptive prototypes.