Patent US 6,056,552

The invention relates to an instrument for analysis of rhythmic measures of speech. One input device is operable to generate input signals representing the rhythm of a group of syllables and an output device responds to these signals and provides a representation of the input rhythm and an indication of the relationship of the input rhythm to a known or predetermined rhythm. The visual representation may be in the form of a numerical display such as comprising symbols representing different rhythmic measures of speech. The input device may be a push button to open and close a switch in a rhythm corresponding to that in which a group of syllables such as a line of verse would be spoken or read. The instrument allows information to be entered rapidly and simply and the different between spoken and written language presents no difficulty. The instrument can be used for interactive educational purposes and it improves hand movement and speech coordination as well as assisting the translation of tests set to music. The instrument can also assist a user in modifying his or her spoken and/or written language in accordance with a desired effect or to conform with existing models.