Speech synthesis apparatus and speech synthesis method

A speech synthesizing method for synthesizing a speech using speech elements so as to transform a voice characteristic of the speech,

• wherein in the element storing unit, speech elements are stored, and
• in the function storing unit, transformation functions for transforming voice characteristics of the respective speech elements are stored,
• said speech synthesizing method comprises:
• deriving a degree of similarity by comparing an acoustic characteristic of one of the speech elements stored in said element storing unit with an acoustic characteristic of a speech element used for generating one of the transformation functions stored in said function storing unit;
• and
• applying, based on the degree of similarity derived in said deriving, one of the transformation functions stored in said function storing unit to a respective one of the speech elements stored in said element storing unit, and transforming the voice characteristic of the speech element.

A program for synthesizing a speech using speech elements so as to transform a voice characteristic of the speech,

• wherein in the element storing unit, speech elements are stored, and
• in the function storing unit, transformation functions for transforming voice characteristics of the respective speech elements are stored,
• said program causing a computer to execute:
• deriving a degree of similarity by comparing an acoustic characteristic of one of the speech elements stored in said element storing unit with an acoustic characteristic of a speech element used for generating one of the transformation functions stored in said function storing unit;
• and
• applying, based on the degree of similarity derived in said deriving, one of the transformation functions stored in said function storing unit to a respective one of the elements stored in said element storing unit, and transforming the voice characteristic of the speech element.