In a speech processing arrangement for synthesizing more natural sounding speech, a speech signal is partitioned into intervals (105). For each interval, a set of coded prediction parameter signals, pitch period and voicing signals, and a set of signals corresponding to the spectrum of the prediction error signal are produced (130). A replica of the speech signal is generated responsive to the coded pitch period and voicing signals as modified by the coded prediction parameter signals (140). The pitch period and voicing signals are shaped (150) responsive to the prediction error spectral signals (122, 124, 126) to compensate for errors in the predictive parameter signals whereby the speech replica is natural sounding.
RESIDUAL EXCITED PREDICTIVE SPEECH CODING SYSTEM