[DECtalk] request for sample paragraphs for testing SAPI DECtalk

Tue Jun 21 04:10:48 EDT 2011

Hi,

It's funny how that works as far as whether to spell out or pronounce a 
word. I know at least DECtalk 4.2CD will try to pronounce the following 
totally nonsensical word. The first recent attempt at a SAPI DECtalk, on the 
other hand, would spell it out even though it has three vowels.
sdfkljsdlkfhdsfdsfhkdfcvasasad

I've seen some modern synths that will spell out total random keyboard 
mashing in cases like this rather than try to pronounce it.

As for Jesus, if I were designing a speech synthesizer for my own use and 
the decision were up to me, I'd pronounce it like the biblical name, simply 
because in most of the text I read, that's the appropriate way for it to be 
pronounced. However, I can certainly see how this was a huge issue, 
especially seeing as how it's impossible for any computer to decide how to 
pronounce it based on context since both possible uses of the word are as 
proper names. Once again if this were my design and I was designing a 
product lots of different people in different parts of the world were going 
to be using, I think a happy medium would be to implement the metaphorical 
"Jesus switch." In other words, let the end user decide for himself or 
herself, based on his or her particular circumstances, how it should be 
pronounced.
Jayson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ebruckert Bruckert" <edbruckert at gmail.com>
To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 3:38 PM
Subject: Re: [DECtalk] request for sample paragraphs for testing SAPI 
DECtalk

> Thats why customizable user dictinary so people could personalize it, the
> biggest single issue way back was which way to pronouce Jesus,
> oe is it biblical or a person's name- both sides were adamant.
>
> On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 3:35 PM, ebruckert Bruckert 
> <edbruckert at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> but computers are dumb, un less you tell it to spell it out it will
>> say---lol let's see I have a vowel  so I'll send it to lettr tosound  and 
>> it
>> will come pronounced as a word, like proper names can cause fits - 
>> hyannis,
>> mass (on the cape ) comes out
>> high-annus unless in the dictionary.
>>
>>   On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM, Jayson Smith 
>> <ratguy at insightbb.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I'd tend to say that netspeak acronyms that aren't also real words 
>>> should
>>> be
>>> spelled out. For instance, I know of at least one case where LOL is an
>>> abbreviation for something other than "Laughing out loud."
>>>
>>> Jayson
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "ebruckert Bruckert" <edbruckert at gmail.com>
>>> To: "DECtalk Discussions" <dectalk at bluegrasspals.com>
>>> Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 11:45 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [DECtalk] request for sample paragraphs for testing SAPI
>>> DECtalk
>>>
>>>
>>>  > Most of these things have been tested extensively in the past and
>>> haven't
>>> > really changed so I think some of the testing would be redundant.
>>> However
>>> > the real issue is new things that are prevalent now they worked back
>>> then
>>> > such as LOL and should it say LOL or laugh out loud.
>>> > Certain things can't be done such as many of the state abbreviations 
>>> > as
>>> > they
>>> > are also words. Also to disambiguate many things some of the parsing 
>>> > is
>>> > case
>>> > sensitive meaning if there's no capitalizations it will figure it out.
>>> But
>>> > the old rules have been tested extensively and haven't really changed 
>>> > so
>>> I
>>> > would be flabbergasted to see if any of the old stuff is broken, so
>>> think
>>> > about all the new things since they 2000 as the rules haven't been
>>> updated
>>> > since approximately that time.
>>> >
>>> > On Mon, Jun 20, 2011 at 11:30 AM, Alex H. <linuxx64.bashsh at gmail.com>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> Hi Corine,
>>> >>
>>> >> Here's a paragraph using some common phrases:
>>> >>
>>> >> Dectalk is now running.
>>> >> The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Four hours of hard work
>>> >> faced us. The cat ran away from the dog at full speed.
>>> >>
>>> >> Abbreviations and websites, email addresses, etc:
>>> >> Mr. Hennings walked over to Dr. Jeckle and they both caught up with
>>> Mrs.
>>> >> Who some time after that.
>>> >> The NCAA is cool. NBA, NHL and MLB scores can now be looked up using
>>> >> Research tools on the web and a website such as 
>>> >> http://www.google.com/
>>> >> head over to www.yahoo.com to see some news stories of interest.
>>> >> Contact sample-address at gmail.com for more info.
>>> >>
>>> >> Monitary values:
>>> >> $10
>>> >> $10.00
>>> >> $10.99
>>> >> $1,234.00
>>> >> $1,234
>>> >> $1,234,567.99
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> Hope this helps.
>>> >> Alex
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> On 6/20/2011 8:00 AM, Corine Bickley wrote:
>>> >> > Jayson and friends,
>>> >> > Dennis used a series of paragraphs to test the various
>>> letter-to-sound
>>> >> > features of DECtalk many years ago (addresses, phone numbers, all 
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > voices). These days, there are other series of characters, like
>>> >> > websites, that users might need to be . Does anyone have a favorite
>>> >> > paragraph that I should use as we finish up our testing of SAPI
>>> >> > DECtalk?
>>> >> >
>>> >> > The voices all sound fine on my computer with simple sentences. I 
>>> >> > now
>>> >> > want to test all sorts of other material before announcing a 
>>> >> > release
>>> >> > date, but I'm sure I don't know what other users will want to hear.
>>> >> > Please send me suggestions.
>>> >> > corine
>>> >> > _______________________________________________
>>> >> > DECtalk mailing list
>>> >> > DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>> >> > http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >> Sent via Thunderbird.
>>> >>  _______________________________________________
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>>> >> DECtalk at bluegrasspals.com
>>> >> http://bluegrasspals.com/mailman/listinfo/dectalk
>>> >>
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
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>>> >
>>>
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>>
>>
>

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