“The greatest, most precious gift he gave me was the opportunity to once again find my creative voice when I had become voiceless. My wings mended, and I better understood the all-consuming act of creativity.”

"We remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future", he said, and called for the full inclusion of Chagossians in drafting the treaty.

Seven years later, though, Dubois has transformed from a sheepish, sometimes voiceless, character to a fighter demanding respect.

She described the situation as a "community crisis", with properties devalued, while the residents felt "betrayed, abandoned and voiceless".

The research team demonstrated the system's accuracy by having the participants pronounce five sentences -- both aloud and voicelessly -- including "Hi, Rachel, how are you doing today?" and "I love you!"