A system for converting english text into speech

Abstract

The feasibility of converting English text into speech using an inexpensive computer and a small amount of stored data has been investigated. The text is segmented into breath groups, the orthography is converted into a phonemic representation, lexical stress is assigned to appropriate syllables, then the resulting string of symbols is converted by synthesis-by-rule into the parameter values for controlling an analogue speech synthesizer. The algorithms for performing these conversions are described in detail and evaluated independently, and the intelligibility of the resulting synthetic speech is assessed by listening tests.