Method and apparatus for adaptive speech recognition hypothesis construction and selection in a spoken language translation system

An apparatus for spoken language translation comprising:

• at least one processor (102);
• an input (125) coupled to the at least one processor, the input capable of receiving at least one speech input, the at least one processor configured to translate the at least one speech input by,
• generating (402) a plurality of recognition hypotheses in response to the at least one speech input taking into consideration a potential variability in the at least one speech input;
• receiving information indicative of (1802) a best hypothesis from the plurality of recognition hypotheses;
• adapting (1810) hypothesis generation in response to the best hypothesis;
• an output (126) coupled to the at least one processor, the output capable of providing the best hypothesis.

A computer readable medium containing executable instructions which, when executed in a processing system, causes the system to perform a method for spoken language translation, the method comprising:

• receiving (302) at least one speech input;
• generating (402) a plurality of recognition hypotheses in response to the at least one speech input taking into consideration a potential variability in the at least one speech input;
• (1802) receiving information indicative of a best hypothesis from the plurality of recognition hypotheses;
• adapting (1810) hypothesis generation in response to the best hypothesis;
• and
• providing (306) at least one output comprising the best hypothesis.

A spoken language translation system, comprising:

• a means for receiving (302) at least one speech input;
• a means for generating (402) a plurality of recognition hypotheses in response to the at least one speech input taking into consideration a potential variability in the at least one speech input;
• a means for receiving information indicative of (1802) a best hypothesis from the plurality of recognition hypotheses;
• a means for adapting (1810) hypothesis generation in response to the best hypothesis;
• and
• a means for providing (306) at least one output comprising the best hypothesis.