Scientific American 60-second Science, July 5, 2016
作者：Erika Beras 翻譯：SophieMen
原文地址：This Algorithm Can Predict Relationship Trouble - Scientific American
音頻下載：160705BreakupAlgorithm.mp3
Transcript and Translation
Watch your tone—because it turns out it really isn’t what you say—it's how you say it. At least when it comes to couples in couples counseling.
That’s according to a study in Proceedings of Interspeech. [Md Nasir et al., Still Together?: The Role of Acoustic Features in Predicting Marital Outcome]
注意你的語氣——因為已經證實重要的不是你說了什么，而是你是如何說的。至少在情侶咨詢中是這樣的。
這一結論的依據是Interspeech會議論文集中的一項研究。
Researchers developed a computer algorithm to gauge relationships between spouses based on their vocal patterns. Working with hundreds of recorded conversations from marriage therapy sessions collected over two years, the algorithm was able to predict whether a relationship was going to get better or worse with an accuracy of just under eighty percent.
研究者們開發了一個計算機算法來依據夫妻雙方的聲音模式評估他們之間的關系。采用在兩年多里收集的數百段婚姻治療會議的錄音，這一算法能夠以接近80%的準確度預測一段關系將會變好還是變糟。
How they did it? The recordings were divided by acoustic features that used speech processing techniques to track pitch and voice warble and intensity.
These clips from the researcher’s training video illustrate psychological states that characterize distressed relationships. This one, for example, shows “negative affect” and “reactivity” – behaviors that relationship experts believe are troublesome.
Female: And I want you to just come home at a more reasonable time rather than you know walking in the door at 11. Male: I just don’t think you understand just how much I have to do, what my work entails. Female: Well, what is there to understand?
他們是如何做到的呢？運用語音處理技術追蹤語調的起伏、顫音、強度，依據這些聲學特征對錄音切片。研究者的這些訓練視頻的切片揭示了有問題關系的心理狀態。例如下面這個例子，說明了“消極情感”和“對刺激的反應”——情感專家認為這些行為容易出現麻煩。
女：我希望你能在一個更合理的時間回家，而不是在11點的時候走進家門。男：我想你只是不能理解我有多少事情要做，我的工作需要我承擔什么。女：哦，需要理解什么呢？
The counseling sessions were also tested against behavioral analyses with codes for positives such as “acceptance” and the negatives such as “blame.” Using only that more standardized research method wasn’t as predictable as listening to the vocal expressions.
Now, these examples are negative as the researchers focused on distressed relationship dynamics. One could imagine the algorithms may also work the same way when looking at positive vocal patterns. Because even married couples sometimes say nice things to each other.
這些咨詢會議同樣也進行了如“接納”類的積極詞語和“責備”類的消極詞語的行為分析測試。只采用這種標準化的研究方法的預測效果并不像聽聲音表達那樣好。目前，由于研究者們關注有問題關系的變化，這些例子只是消極的。可以想象這個算法也可以采用同樣的方式處理積極聲音模式。因為即便是已婚夫妻間有時也會互相說好話。
Vocabulary
spouse, \?spau?s also ?spau?z, noun, someone who is married : a husband or wife.
acoustic, \?-?küs-tik, adjective, 1. of or relating to sound or to the sense of hearing. 2. of a musical instrument: not having its sound changed by electrical devices. 3. made with or using acoustic instruments
warble, \?wo?r-b?l, noun, 1. a melodious succession of low pleasing sounds. 2. a musical trill. 3. the action of warbling.
distressed, /d??str?st/, adjective, 1.feeling or showing extreme unhappiness or pain. 2.somewhat formal: not having enough money : experiencing financial trouble.
entail, \in-?tāl, en-, verb ,to have (something) as a part, step, or result
