To generate a text combined voice with the rhythm of an arbitrary speaker.
A rhythm generator 44 generates rhythm information, on the basis of information of reading and parts of speech generated by a text analyzer 41. A rhythm-learning device 51 extracts a control parameter, representing the ratio of rhythm information extracted from the voice of a target speaker inputted from a voice input terminal 50 to the rhythm information generated by the generator 44. A rhythm controller 46 controls the operation of the generator 44, on the basis of the extracted control parameter to modify the generated rhythm information into the rhythm information of the target speaker. Thus, the rhythmical characteristic of the combined voice can be made to resemble the rhythmical characteristic of the target speaker.
KIMURA OSAMU
MIKI KAZUHIRO
