2091353 9205540 PCTABS00011 A speech categorization system (20) includes first and second timers which generate first and second measured durations indicative of duration of selected higher and lower amplitude segments included in a voice message. A higher amplitude segment is classified in a first category when the first and second measured durations corresponding to the higher amplitude segment and an adjacent lower amplitude segment satisfy a classification test, and a counter (28) counts the number of the higher amplitude segments classified in the first category. To detect spoken itemized words such as numbers or letters, the classification test can include the requirement that the lower amplitude segment be relatively short as compared to the preceding higher amplitude segment.
SYSTEM FOR DISTINGUISHING OR COUNTING SPOKEN ITEMIZED EXPRESSIONS