[DECtalk] Adding words to Dectalk dictionary

Wed Jan 26 14:26:27 EST 2011

Hi,

I think that list is a pretty complete, i don't know a lot about how
the dictionary actually works but know hponemes pretty well. Hopefully
this can be implimented.

I have afew questions.

Will a users be able to sing with the Sapi dectalk
What version is this based on of dectalk?
Wht will be the cost of this synth?

thanks!
Alex

On 1/25/11, Jayson Smith <ratguy at insightbb.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> As for getting the word out, here's one thought. As many of you probably
> know, RSGames is a free service offering Internet multi-player Monopoly,
> Uno, Yahtzee and Blackjack games which are totally accessible to the blind
> using a special client. This client runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It
> works directly with most popular screen readers. Recently RSGames started
> running text advertisements in order to defray the costs of running the
> service. Ads cost $15 per month and reach a targeted audience of blind
> gamers. Anyone interested in an ad can hit a single keystroke to have a copy
> of that ad Emailed to them, along with a web link to obtain more information
> about the product or service. Payments should be made via Paypal. For more
> info about RSGames, go to www.rsgames.co.nr, and to ask about ads, write to
> rsgames at gmail.com. When constructing your ad, you should provide a website
> where potential customers can get more info.
>
> Other ways of reaching out would be Twitter, Facebook, etc. Obviously this
> list. Fred's Head, Top Tech Tidbits on Thursday, etc.
>
> Now, a few questions. Is this going to be a Fonix product? Any estimate on a
> release date? Price? Will it have an exceptions dictionary? Imho it should.
> Also imho novice users should be able to use standard misspelling techniques
> to adjust the pronunciation, but advanced DECtalk geeks should be able to
> get down to the phoneme level if they wish.
>
> Another thing that always bugged me about DECtalk is that the end user
> didn't have access to the d phoneme used in regular speech. Thus, when using
> a custom pronunciation dictionary or making DECtalk sing, the d sounds
> always sounded a bit weird. Is this going to be fixed?
> Thanks, and I look forward to playing with this!
> Jayson
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Dectalk at aol.com>
> To: <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] Adding words to Dectalk dictionary
>
>
>> Hi guys!  I'll be in charge of the Dectalk  dictionary, but I don't have
>> anything yet.  If it will do phrases, this  won't be a problem.  But, I'm
>> thinking that the dictionary is single word  only.  So I have no clue how
>> to
>> handle double pronunciations.
>>
>> One question I have is, is there a control character  that appears as a
>> space, that I could use as a command for an alternative  pronunciation?  I
>>
>> know
>> in one Dectalk  version it was control something, but I can't remember
>> what
>> it  was.
>>
>> I would live to stay away from a visible command so it  won't show up in a
>> document.  I have no clue how.
>>
>> I have another question.  If E-voice still  existed, I could let everyone
>> know about the Dectalk SAPI 5 within hours.   I miss E-voice to no end!
>> So
>> on the internet, what is the best way to get  the word out about this SAPI
>>
>> 5?
>>
>>
>> SNOOPI BOTTEN
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 1/24/2011 9:37:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>> musicalman1 at comcast.net writes:
>>
>> Well, I  am not familiar with the Dectalk dictionary in any way, but those
>> kinds of  rules would not be easy to implement even if such a dictionary
>> existed. I  believe most synths that can pronounce words two different
>> ways
>> use  context clues to figure out which pronunciation to use. For instance,
>> read  has two pronunciations, as you know. For example:
>> you should read the book  by Thursday.
>> or
>> The book should be read by Thursday.
>> You could  probably just put phrases in the dictionary, and changing their
>> pronunciations accordingly. That is, if the Dectalk dictionary supports
>> phrases, which it should although i'm just guessing here. This might work
>> in
>> the example you mentioned, as putting words in front of record would
>> determine how it is pronounced. For example, you would never say, the
>> re-cord. So it is safe to change this in the dictionary. you could
>> probably
>> do that for a lot of different word combinations and it would be  pretty
>> accurate. Adding all these rules would take a lot of time, and you  would
>> have to be careful with it. If the Dectalk dictionary supports  context
>> clues
>> though, I wouldn't know how you would help it determine  which
>> pronunciation
>> is correct.
>> These are just my thoughts. I don't  know how accurate this is, but I am
>> pretty sure it is a good work-around  if no other can be found.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Blake  Roberts" <beroberts at hughes.net>
>> To: "'DECtalk Discussions'"  <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>> Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 8:31  PM
>> Subject: [DECtalk] Adding words to Dectalk dictionary
>>
>>
>>> Hi  all,
>>> Snoopi and I have been involved with the Dectalk SAPI project for
>>> several
>>> months now. I am happy to report that a SAPI Dectalk is  nearing reality.
>>>
>>> The project leader gave Snoopi the task of  adding words to the Dectalk
>>> dictionary. Specifically, enabling Dectalk  to say the same word two
>>> different ways, such as record. Does anyone  have ideas on how the
>>> Dectalk
>>> dictionary can be modified so that  Dectalk will know when to use
>> different
>>> pronunciations for the same  word?
>>>
>>> I know Snoopi is on this list. I am writing on his  behalf because Snoopi
>>> asked me to inquire of people familiar with  Dectalk. Any advice would be
>>> appreciated.
>>>  Blake
>>>
>>>
>>>  _______________________________________________
>>> DECtalk mailing  list
>>> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>>  http://jaybird.no-ip.info/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>
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>>
>>
>
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