VTS Speech Lexicon

The new ShowLexicon module enables you to launch a SAPI text-to-speech engine lexicon dialog to permit the modification to the pronunciation of words by your PC.

The Configure Speech Lexicon dialog is displayed in the following image:

When a PC "speaks" certain words, abbreviations, or phrases, they are sometimes mispronounced or are not pronounced clearly, based on their ordinary spelling. The purpose of the VTS Speech Lexicon is to enable you to adjust the text spoken by a PC until it is pronounced clearly.

Once a word or abbreviation has been entered into the VTS Speech Lexicon, and its pronunciation has been adjusted, whenever the original word or abbreviation is encountered by your PC, it will refer back to the stored modified pronunciation.

The VTS Speech Lexicon includes the following elements:

•      Word The "Word" column displays the words and abbreviations you have configured for pronunciation by the VTS Speech Lexicon as they are spelled in the English language.

•      Phonetic The "Phonetic" column displays the phonetic version of the word; that is, an alteration of the word or abbreviation's ordinary spelling that better represents the spoken language (e.g. the abbreviation "alm" appears as "alarm" in the phonetic column, indicating that whenever "alm" is encountered, "alarm" should be pronounced).

•      Phonemes The "Phonemes" column displays the abstract units of the phonetic system used to correctly "pronounce" the specified word or abbreviation, as generated by the VTS Speech Lexicon dialog based on the word or abbreviation as adjusted in the "Phonetic" column.

•      Add The "Add" button opens the "Edit Lexicon Word" dialog that enables you to add a new word or abbreviation to the VTS Speech Lexicon.

•      Edit The "Edit" button opens the "Edit Lexicon Word" dialog that enables you to modify the pronunciation of a selected word or abbreviation.

•      Delete The "Delete" button allows you to delete a selected word or abbreviation from the VTS Speech Lexicon.

•      Speak The "Speak" button to the right of the "Word" field allows you to hear your PC speak the selected word or abbreviation as it appears in the "Word" column.  The "Speak" button to the right of the "Pronunciation" field allows you to hear your PC speak the selected word or abbreviation as it appears in the "Pronunciation" field (i.e. speaks the phonemes configured for the corresponding word or abbreviation).