Editing Mechanical synthesis (section)

== LLM Review ==
[https://chat.openai.com/ ChatGPT] was critically used for the purpose of improving the readability, coherence, grammaticality, and information flow in this article. Two different prompts were employed by the author to this end:

* Evaluate the language use, coherency, and flow of information in the following paragraph.
* Assess the accessibility and quality of explanations in the following text, considering it is intended to have a neutral, yet engaging tone, suitable for a Wikipedia article.

For example, for improving the Introduction section, the prompt:<blockquote>'''Evaluate the language use, grammaticality, coherence, and flow of information in the following paragraph''': 'Speech synthesis refers to the artificial reproduction of human-like speech. In recent years, this scientific field has witnessed significant advancements driven by extensive research, expanding computational capabilities, the accessibility of speech data, and substantial financial investments in this domain. However, the very early attempts at speech synthesis can be traced back to as early as the 18th century, reflecting the undeniable significance of speech as a primary mode of human communication. Over time, technological advancements have greatly enhanced the accuracy, quality, and naturalness of synthesized speech; see for example projects such as OLGA, which integrated audiovisual information and facial animation to boost speech intelligibility.'</blockquote>returned the following feedback:<blockquote>The paragraph provides a clear and coherent overview of the topic of speech synthesis. However, there are a few areas where language use and flow could be improved:

# Repetition: The phrase "speech synthesis" is used frequently. To enhance readability, consider using synonyms or rephrasing to avoid repetitive language.
# Flow of Information: The paragraph could benefit from a smoother flow of information. It starts with a general definition of speech synthesis and then jumps to recent advancements before briefly mentioning early attempts. It may be more logical to first introduce the historical context before discussing contemporary developments.
# Citations: When mentioning specific projects like OLGA, it's advisable to provide more information or citations to give the reader a better understanding of these references.

Here's a revised version with these considerations in mind:

"Speech synthesis, the artificial recreation of human-like speech, has undergone significant evolution in recent years. This progress is fueled by extensive research, enhanced computational capabilities, the availability of speech data, and substantial financial investments in the field. Notably, the early experiments in speech synthesis date back to the 18th century, highlighting the enduring importance of speech as a primary means of human communication. Over time, technological advancements have markedly improved the accuracy, quality, and naturalness of synthesized speech. For instance, projects like OLGA have leveraged audiovisual information and facial animation to enhance speech intelligibility."

This version maintains the essential information while reducing repetition and improving the flow of ideas.</blockquote>Importantly, although ChatGPT almost always provided a revised block of text with the incorporated feedback, the authoer opted for improving the initial paragraph to the best of her abilities, considering ChatGPT's feedback ''selectively'', i.e. the revised block of text was never copied and pasted straight from the answer prompt. Ultimately, the model's suggestions were either incorporated manually or ignored.

Here is an example of partly dismissed suggestions:<blockquote>The paragraph offers a comprehensive overview of the historical context and the early attempts at mechanical speech synthesis in the 1700s. The language use is generally appropriate, but there are areas where coherency and flow could be improved:

# Transition and Organization: The paragraph moves between different ideas and time periods with clear transitions. A more organized and structured progression of information would enhance coherency and readability.
# Clarity: Some sentences are quite long and complex, which can make the information more challenging to follow. Simplifying and breaking down certain sentences could improve clarity.
# Citations: While various historical figures and works are mentioned, citations or references to specific sources would enhance the paragraph's credibility.

Here's a revised version that addresses these issues:

"In the backdrop of the Enlightenment, the 1700s witnessed the nascent attempts at mechanical speech synthesis, reflecting the era's pivotal ideas. This historical period was characterized by a focus on human well-being, the pursuit of knowledge through rational inquiry and sensory evidence, and a fervor for freedom and scientific progress. The Enlightenment also marked a growing appreciation of the human intellect, with a strong emphasis on the scientific method and principles of reductionism.

While anatomical knowledge of the head and neck was well-established by the 17th century, there remained a significant gap in understanding how these anatomical components contributed to speech production and the precise origin of vocal sound.

A notable early account of speech production and proposed synthesis mechanisms can be found in Marin Mersenne's work from 1636. Here, he provides clear instructions for constructing organ pipes capable of articulating vowels, consonants, syllables, and complete utterances. His work, along with later contributions from Denis Dodart and Antoine Ferrein, correctly recognized the pivotal role of tube shape and its manipulation in reproducing speech sounds.

By the 1750s, the prevailing theoretical framework for speech production posited that the lungs generated an aerodynamic airflow, which passed through the vocal folds, causing them to vibrate and produce sound. This sound was subsequently shaped into speech through a tube-like vocal tract. At this juncture, the analogy between the vocal tract and a 'special musical instrument' was firmly established, and scientific attention shifted towards how to effectively use this unique vocal instrument to generate speech. Concurrently, Leonhard Euler made notable contributions to the field of physics, speculating on the possibility of creating musical instruments that could closely mimic human speech.

In summary, these contributions from various disciplines during the Enlightenment era represent a pivotal point in the early understanding of speech production and potential approaches to speech synthesis."

This revised version offers a clearer organization of ideas and enhanced readability.</blockquote>Suggestion 1 was dismissed because it contains contradictory information and because I considered the timeline to reflect my intentions well and clearly enough. I have minimally revised some longer sentences; and I have completely dismissed the revised paragraph, as I think the style is excessively pompous and more convoluted than before.

=== Contributing student ===
Maria Tepei