The Impact of Training Strategies on Overfitting in Vowel Classification Using PS-HFCC Parametrization for Automatic Speech Recognition

This paper investigates the overfitting problem in vowel classification task for automatic speech recognition (ASR). It utilizes a pitch synchronized human factor cepstral coefficients (PS-HFCC) as the parametrization method, which outperforms traditional methods like HFCC and mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) in frame-level classification accuracy. While deep learning models are prevalent in contemporary ASR systems, they often lack explainability, a characteristic of classical classifiers. Therefore, this study examines overfitting phenomenon using a range of classifiers with well-understood properties. Specifically, it analyzes the impact of different training strategies on classifier performance, comparing the susceptibility to overfitting of several widely used classifiers, including the Gaussian mixture model (GMM), a standard approach in speech recognition. The analysis of training strategies considers various data splitting methods: random, speaker-based, and cluster-based. Our analysis of training strategies highlights the crucial role of data splitting methods: while random splitting is commonly used, it can lead to inflated accuracy due to overfitting. We demonstrate that speaker-independent splitting, where the classifier is trained on one set of speakers and tested on a separate, unseen set, is essential for robust evaluation and for accurately assessing generalization to new speakers. Potentially, the resulting insights may inform the future development and training of more reliable ASR systems.