Evaluation of a novel fuzzy sequential pattern recognition tool (fuzzy elastic matching machine) and its applications in speech and handwriting recognition.

•A novel fuzzy linguistic sequential pattern recognition named FEMM is investigated.•Elastic pattern is introduced as a sequence of parts those durations are modeled with fuzzy sets.•Considering the elastic nature of speech, the proposed method has improved the speech recognition rate.•FEMM has shown faster speech recognition rate and more immunity to noise comparing with HMM.•FEMM has also shown better recognition rate in Persian handwritten database.