Scientific American 60-second Science, July 5, 2016
作者：Erika Beras 翻译：SophieMen
原文地址：This Algorithm Can Predict Relationship Trouble - Scientific American
音频下载：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]
注意你的语气——因为已经证实重要的不是你说了什么，而是你是如何说的。至少在情侣咨询中是这样的。
这一结论的依据是Interspeech会议论文集中的一项研究。
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.
研究者们开发了一个计算机算法来依据夫妻双方的声音模式评估他们之间的关系。采用在两年多里收集的数百段婚姻治疗会议的录音，这一算法能够以接近80%的准确度预测一段关系将会变好还是变糟。
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?
他们是如何做到的呢？运用语音处理技术追踪语调的起伏、颤音、强度，依据这些声学特征对录音切片。研究者的这些训练视频的切片揭示了有问题关系的心理状态。例如下面这个例子，说明了“消极情感”和“对刺激的反应”——情感专家认为这些行为容易出现麻烦。
女：我希望你能在一个更合理的时间回家，而不是在11点的时候走进家门。男：我想你只是不能理解我有多少事情要做，我的工作需要我承担什么。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.
这些咨询会议同样也进行了如“接纳”类的积极词语和“责备”类的消极词语的行为分析测试。只采用这种标准化的研究方法的预测效果并不像听声音表达那样好。目前，由于研究者们关注有问题关系的变化，这些例子只是消极的。可以想象这个算法也可以采用同样的方式处理积极声音模式。因为即便是已婚夫妻间有时也会互相说好话。
Vocabulary
spouse, \ˈspau̇s also ˈspau̇z, noun, someone who is married : a husband or wife.
acoustic, \ə-ˈküs-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, \ˈwȯr-bəl, noun, 1. a melodious succession of low pleasing sounds. 2. a musical trill. 3. the action of warbling.
distressed, /dɪˈstrɛst/, adjective, 1.feeling or showing extreme unhappiness or pain. 2.somewhat formal: not having enough money : experiencing financial trouble.
entail, \in-ˈtāl, en-, verb ,to have (something) as a part, step, or result
