S.A.M.
The Software Automatic Mouth
Download the Disk Image (boot with BASIC) Listen to S.A.M. reciting the Gettysburg Address (MP3 - 123Kb) Listen to S.A.M. talking about himself (MP3 - 377Kb)
Written by
Mark Barton
S.A.M. and Reciter programs
Documentation and packaging
(c) 1982 -- Don't Ask, Inc.
S.A.M. character designed by Gunnar Kullenberg
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Atari is a trademark of Atari, Inc/Warner Communications
Software Automatic Mouth is a trademark of Don't Ask Inc.
Software Automatic Mouth is a trademark of Don't Ask Inc.
DON'T ASK does not guarantee the compatibility of the S.A.M. programs with any other software packages, languages, operating systems, or hardware devices other than those specifically discussed in this manual.
Information on compatibility with specific products may from time-to-time become available upon request from DON'T ASK.
This software product and the attached instructional materials are sold "AS IS" without warranty as to their performance. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the computer software program is assumed by the user. The user, and not the manufacturer, distributor or retailer assumes the entire cost of all necessary service or repair to the computer software program. DON'T ASK Inc. shall have no liability or responsibility to the purchaser or any other person or entity with respect to any liability, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this product, including but not limited to any interruption in service, loss of service, loss of business and anticipatory profits or consequential damages resulting from the use or operation of the software, hardware, or documentation portions of this product.
However, to the original purchaser only, DON'T ASK Inc. warrants that the medium on which the program is recorded will be free from defects in materials and faulty workmanship under normal use and service for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase. If a defect in the medium should occur during this period, the medium should be returned for repair or replacement to DON'T ASK or to its authorized dealer. After this ninety day period, media inoperable for any reason may be returned to DON'T ASK only along with $5.00 for prompt replacement. Hardware devices supplied with this product are warrantied on a similar basis except that after the 90 day period, replacement cost shall be $15.00.
The above warranties for goods are in lieu of all other express warranties and no implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or any other warranty obligation on the part of DON'T ASK shall last longer than ninety (90) days. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Upon receipt of this computer program and associated documentation, DON'T ASK grants to you a non-exclusive license to execute the enclosed software and to make back-up copies of some of these computer programs for your personal use only; and only on the condition that all copies are conspicuously marked with the same copyright notices that appear on the original. This software and accompanying instructional materials are copyrighted. You are prohibited from reproducing, translating, or distributing the software or instructional materials in any unauthorized manner.
No portion of the software contained within this product may be incorporated within or included with another computer program that is to be sold, reproduced, or transferred to other parties in any way without the express written permission of DON'T ASK, Inc. A run-time package of the speech synthesis program is available to be licensed directly from DON'T ASK. For further information contact:
DON'T ASK COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Software Licensing
3002 Midvale Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Don't Ask Computer Software reserves the right to make improvements in the product described in this manual at any time and without notice. DON'T ASK can have no responstbility for any errors, whether factual or typographical, in this documentation.
Congratulations!
You have just purchased S.A.M. -- the Software Automatic Mouth -- a versatile, high-quality speech synthesizer created entirely in software. You have added quality speech to your personal computer for a lower cost than ever before possible and, in the bargain, have gained features that other speech synthesizers cannot offer.
S.A.M. is designed to be easy to use. With a couple of simple program statements, you can add speech to your BASIC or assembly-language programs. When you have mastered the easy-to-learn phonetic alphabet, the inflection system, and the use of pitch and speed controls, you will be amazed at what you can make S.A.M. do. And, until then it will already match the performance of other speech synthesizers.
We strongly suggest that you read this manual carefully while learning to use S.A.M. There are thorough discussions of S.A.M.'s features with illustrative examples of how to implement them. There is also a dictionary of useful words and their phonetic equivalents to help you learn the phonetic spelling system.
Also remember that as a registered S.A.M. owner, you are entitled to our services in answering your S.A.M.-related questions, providing updates and improvements to the S.A.M. program at nominal cost, and helping you with your applications of S.A.M. Yes, this is a not-too-subtle hint that you should send in your S.A.M. owner registration card today. We look forward to hearing from you.
The S.A.M. diskette contains several programs.
1. The S.A.M. speech synthesis program
This program will boot in automatically and will leave your computer, whether on its l shaped desk or other workstation, ready to accept speech input through BASIC or machine language programs. The program occupies about 9K bytes.
2. RECITER --
RECITER is the English text-to-speech program that interfaces the S.A.M. program with ordinary English text input. It is not used for phonetic input and must be loaded in separately (see instructions). It occupies about 6K bytes.
3. SAYIT --
A short BASIC program that allows you to type in strings of phonemes or text and hear them spoken immediately.
4. DEMO -- A BASIC program that demonstrates some of S.A.M.'s features by telling a short story.
5. SPEECHES --
Another BASlC program that features some familiar texts to be spoken aloud by S.A.M.
6. GUESSNUM --
A vocal version of the old guess-the-number-between-one-and-one-hundred game. Great for kids.
We suggest that you do not write additional data on the S.A.M. diskette. Remove it after loading the desired programs.
The S.A.M. program itself is a self-contained machine-language program that automatically boots in from the S.A.M. diskette when a system cartridge (e.g. BASIC or ASSEMBLER) is in the left slot. Programs using S.A.M. in the phonetic mode can be run immediately at this point.
In order to allow maximum working space in Atari memory, S.A.M. has been installed in a location that conflicts with some functions of the Atari DOS 2.OS operating system. In particular, when the DOS menu must be accessed, such as to load the RECITER program or the RS232 handler, special care must be taken. We therefore ask you to take the following steps:
1. Format a blank diskette using DOS 2.0S (S.A.M. is incompatible with other versions of DOS) and write the DOS files to the disk with the "H" option in DOS. DO NOT use the DOS from the S.A.M. disk to create the copy disk; use DOS from another disk.
2. Copy the programs from the S.A.M. diskette onto this new disk using the "O" (duplicate file) command followed by *.* to copy all the files (the "J" command will not work). The S.A.M. program will not be transferred to the new disk.
3. Make sure there is a MEM.SAV file on your copy disk and always leave it unwrite-protected.
4. To use S.A.M. in conjunction with DOS, boot the S.A.M. disk. Then remove it and place the copy disk you have created into your drive. Then type "DOS" to enter the DOS menu. You can now load machine language files such as RECITER via the "L" command in DOS. Just remember that in order to use DOS with S.A.M. in the system,there must be a MEM.SAV on the disk. To return to BASIC after loading in a file, use the "B" command. (See the DOS 2.0S manual for further information on the use of MEM.SAV.)
We have included a S.A.M.-and-RECITER-compatible bootstrap for the RS232C handler on the S.A.M. diskette. Binary load it from DOS exactly as you do with RECITER if you need to use the RS232 interface along with S.A.M.
The RS232 handler provided will only function if RECITER is already loaded in. It will not work with S.A.M. alone.
Once S.A.M. is loaded into memory, you can run all four demo programs on the S.A.M. disk (SAYIT, DEMO, SPEECHES, and GUESSNUM). These are all Atari BASIC programs and run from the usual BASIC "RUN" command. To operate SAYIT with English input, make sure you have binary-loaded RECITER as well.
S.A.M. patches into Atari BASIC by the use of the reserved string variable named SAM$ (easy to remember).
Two BASIC statments are all that are required to make S.A.M. speak. The following statements inserted anywhere in an Atari BASIC program will cause S.A.M. to speak the phrase "I am a computer".
100 SAM$= "AY4 AEM AH KUMPYUW3TER."
110 A= USR(8192)
1. To avoid stepping on S.A.M. with your Atari BASIC program, do not make any changes in the value of LOWMEM.
2. S.A.M. makes use of the "zero" sound register in the Atari (location $D201). You may use the other three sound registers undisturbed during vocal output. S.A.M. has no effect on Atari graphics modes other than using up memory that might be needed for large programs requiring high resolution (e.g. GR.8) graphic display.
3. S.A.M. disables interrupt requests and shuts down the ANTIC chip during vocal output. Therefore, the screen will blank out and the BREAK key will not operate while S.A.M. is speaking. See the Technical Notes for more details.
To use RECITER from Atari BASIC, follow this procedure:
1. Boot S.A.M. in from the S.A.M. diskette.
2. Enter DOS from a disk containing MEM.SAV and RECITER (see page 6).
3. Type "L" for Binary Load.
4. Type "RECITER".
5. When the DOS prompt returns, type "B" to get back into BASIC.
6. You are ready to use RECITER in your programs or in SAYIT.
Using RECITER from Atari BASIC is the same as using S.A.M. in his phonetic mode. However, this time the string SAM$ is in plain English. Also the calling address is different.
100 SAM$= "I AM A COMPUTER."
110 A= USR(8199)
FROM MACHINE LANGUAGE
This is very similar to using S.A.M. from Atari BASIC except for one change; you must do your own string handling. A string of ATASCII characters (the same ones you would use in BASIC) is moved into locations $2014-2113. The first character must be in $2014 and the last character, an $9B return character, marks the string's end. Bytes after the $9B are not read by S.A.M. Following the string definition, a JSR $2004 is done and S.A.M. speaks. The use of RECITER is the same except that you do a JSR $200B instead.
RECITER is an English text-to-speech program that converts ordinary text into phonemes that S.A.M. can understand. You simply supply output strings of 256 characters or less to the program. RECITER takes care of the rest.
The program uses about 450 rules to convert English into S.A.M.'s phonetic language. Included among these rules are some stress markers for situations where the stress choice is unambiguous. In addition, S.A.M.'s usual punctuation rules still operate with some additional symbols ("!", ";", and ":") being considered as periods. The net result is that even directly-translated English text has a fair amount of inflection.
RECITER also recognizes a number of special characters. Numbers are read aloud, and several others are pronounced as well. If a character is not understood by RECITER, it simply isn't passed to S.A.M.
We recommend use of RECITER (or any text-to-speech program, for that matter) only for applications where the user has no control of the text. For example, text already in a file, text received over a MODEM, and text supplied by users unfamiliar with the phonetic system. Where the highest quality speech with full inflection is desired, we urge you to use S.A.M.'s phonetic system.
Don't be discouraged. though. You will find that RECITER will do a better job of speaking from English text than other text-translator products.
SAYIT is a short BASIC program that allows you to test many of S.A.M. and RECITER's features by directly inputting the string SAM$.
If both S.A.M. and RECITER have been loaded in, you may opt for English input when running the program.
Typing "ctrl-N" will allow you to input new pitch and speed values to test these features. Once you have done so, the new pitch and speed will remain until you type "crtl-N" again.
I. THE PHONETIC SPELLING SYSTEM
S.A.M. is equipped with a version of the easy-to-learn, very readable International Phonetic Alphabet. There are about fifty phonemes which will let you spell all the words in English. Some sounds from foreign languages are not available in the system at this time.
Why use the phonetic system? There are two compelling reasons. 1.) In the phonetic system, all the words will be pronounced correctly; and 2.) You can put inflection into the speech however and wherever you want it.
If you have already tried the RECITER text-to-speech program, you know that it does a fair job of pronouncing English words. However, it does make mistakes. Some words sound a little strange and others are difficult to understand. The reasons for this are not hard to understand. English is a language of exceptions rather than rules; words that are spelled alike are pronounced differently ("have" vs. "gave"). A rule system like RECITER cannot pronounce all words correctly unless it stores an enormous dictionary that takes up vast amounts of memory. But the second flaw in text-to-speech conversion is more serious. Such a rule system cannot decide where the stress belongs in what is being said. The phonetic system in S.A.M., on the other hand, allows you to decide where to accent syllables within a word and where to stress words within a sentence.
So it is clear that the preferred way to make S.A.M. speak is with the phonetic alphabet. But how hard is it to use? It's really easier than writing in English because you don't have to know how to spell! You only have to know how to say the word in order to spell it phonetically.
Here is the complete list of phonemes, each presented with a sample word containing its sound. Note that there are many vowels, which is why they are all indicated by two letters rather than one.
The phonemes are classified into two categories: vowels and consonants. Among the vowels are the simple vowel sounds such as the "i" in "sit", the "o" in "slot", and the "a" in "hat". These vowels do not change their quality throughout their duration. There are also vowels called diphthongs such as the "i" in "site", the "o" in "slow", and the "a" in "hate", as well as the "oi" in "oil" and the "ow" in "how". These vowels start with one sound and end with another (e.g. "oi" glides from an "oh" sound to an "ee" sound).
The consonants are also divided into two groups: voiced and unvoiced. The voiced consonants require you to use your vocal chords to produce the sound. Such sounds as "b". "I", "n", and "z" sounds fall into this category. The unvoiced consonants, on the other hand, are produced entirely by rushing air and include such sounds as the "p", "t", "h", and "sh" sounds.
FOR S.A.M.
The example words have the sound of the phoneme, not necessarily the same letters.
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Note: The symbol for the "H" sound is /H.
A glottal stop is a forced stoppage of sound.
On the phoneme chart, you will notice six phonemes -- YX, WX, RX, LX, /X, and DX -- which are described as being used by S.A.M.'s rule system. However, they have been provided with letter codes so that you may experiment with these special sounds directly. YX and WX are weaker versions of Y and W. RX and LX are smooth gliding versions of R and L. /X is the "h" sound in "who", and DX is the quick flap of the tongue on the upper palate as in the word "pity".
We are now ready to transcribe ordinary speech into its phonetic representation. Let's use the following sentence as an example:
The first step is to say each word aloud and decide how many syllables are in the word. a syllable has one vowel phoneme and its associated consonants (if any). We then identify the proper vowel phoneme by comparing its sound to lhe sounds listed in the table, and do the same for the consonants. The resultant combination of phonemes is the phonetic representation of the syllable. We do this for each syllable in a word.
In our example. the first word -- "I" -- is a single phoneme, the diphthong "AY". The next word -- "do" -- is a single syllable comprised of the diphthong "UW" preceded by the voiced consonant "D". The phonetic spelling is therefore "DUW". Similarly. the third word -- "my" -- again uses the "AY" sound, this time preceded by an "M", resulting in "MAY".
The word "calculations" has four syllables. The first syllable transcribes as "KAEL". The "c" sound is pronounced as "k". unlike the "s" pronunciation in a word like "cell" (notice there is no "C" in the phoneme table). The next syllable -- "cu" -- transcribes as "KYUW". Note here that the "Y" sound prevents this syllable from being pronounced as "coo". The third syllable comes out as "LEY", and the fourth becomes "SHAXNZ". This word ends with a voiced sound "7" and notthe hissy"S" sound as in "list". You will rapidly discover that many words contain the phonetic combinations "AXL". "AXM". and "AXN". To enhance the readability of the phonetic spelling, the special symbols "UL". "UM", and "UN" can be substituted for these combinations. The "tions" syllable is now written as "SHUNZ". So, "calculations" becomes "KAELKYUWLEYSHUNZ".
The next word "on" becomes "AAN", and "the" becomes "DHAX". By the way. if the word "the" precedes a word beginning with a vowel, it gets pronounced "thee" and is spelled "DHIY". You should also notice that the "th" letter combination has two phonetic representations: unvoiced (TH) as in "thin", or voiced (DH) as in "the".
By now. the steps used in getting from "computer" to "KUMPYUWTER" should already be obvious. Try it.
Once you get used to the phonetic system, it will seem very easy and obvious. Initially, there will be some spellings that seem tricky (did you know that "adventure" has a "CH" in it?). However,the rule is always to write the word the way you say it, not the way you spell it.
To help you learn the system fast, we have provided an English-to-phonetic spelling dictionary of almost 1500 words. Many common words are in the dictionary; some unusual ones are in it as well. If you are really stuck on how to spell a word that isn't in the dictionary, think of another word that sounds like it and that one may be listed.
In any case, don't hesitate to experiment with the phonetic spelling system. Let your ears be your guide. This system is easy to learn, easy to use, easy to read, and you will be amazed at what you can do with it.
In the phonetic mode, S.A.M. is capable of speaking with a great deal of inflection and emphasis. This gives a much more natural and understandable quality to the speech than is otherwise possible.
The stress system for S.A.M. is particulary easy to use. There are eight stress markers that can be used simply by inserting a number (1-8) after the vowel to be stressed. For example. the monotonic pronunciation of the word "hello" produced by the phonetic spelling "/HEHLOW" becomes a much friendlier sounding greeting when spelled "/HEH3LOW".
Why do you have to put in the stress markers? Simply because they can go anywhere and S.A.M. has no way of knowing where you want them to go. The following simple example will demonstrate this point to you. Use the SAYIT program on your S.A.M. disk to hear the following sample phrases.
We will have S.A.M. say
"Why should I walk to the store?"
in a number of different ways.
1. WAY2 SHUH7D AY WAO5K TUX DHAH STOH5R.
(You want a reason to do it.)
2. WAY7 SHUH2D AY WAO7K TUX DHAH STOH5R.
(You are reluctant to go.)
3. WAY5 SHUH7D AY2 WAO7K TUX DHAH STOHR.
(You want someone else to do it.)
4. WAY5 SHUHD AY7 WAO2K TUX7 DHAH STOHR.
(You'd rather drive.)
5. WAY5 SHUHD AY WAO5K TUX DHAH STOH2OH7R.
(You want to walk somewhere else.)
Each of these stress examples has a slightly different meaning, even though the words are all the same. Stress markers give you the ability to let S.A.M. be expressive.
What do the stress markers do? The number you type tells S.A.M.to raise (or lower) his pitch and elongate the associated vowel sound.
The number system works like this:
1 = very emotional stress
2 = very emphatic stress
3 = rather strong stress
4 = ordinary stress
5 = light stress
6 = neutral (no pitch change) stress
7 = pitch-dropping stress
8 = extreme pitch-dropping stress
When should you use each of these? It all depends on how you want S.A.M. to sound. Say the words to yourself as expressively as you can and see where your voice rises and falls. Remember, the smaller the number, the more extreme the emphasis will be. Also, the stress markers will help get difficult words pronounced correctly. If some syllable is not enunciated sufficiently, put in a neutral stress marker.
A general rule is that the most important word or words in a sentence get the most stress and the rest of the words get little or no stress. However, words of more than one syllable should have stress marked on their accented syllables (most dictionaries show which these are if you are uncertain).
We will now assign stresses to our first example sentence about doing calculations on the computer. The first word "AY" is usually an important word (can you think of anyone more important?). We will write it as "AY4", assigning ordinary stress. "DUW", the only verb, is also important. We'll try "DUW4". "MAY" isn't very strong (unless you want to draw attention to it) and it is a single syllable. so we will leave it alone. "KAELKYUWLEYSHUNZ" is polysyllabic so we must identify the accented syllables. It is also the most important word in the sentence so it will have the strongest stress. "LEY" has the primary stress and "KAEL" receives the secondary stress. so we will write "KAE4LKYUWLEY3SHUNZ". "AAN" and "DHAX" are short, unstressed words. "KUMPYUWTER" has a single accent on "PYUW" and gets written "KUMPYUW4TER". So. our original sentence gets written
AY4 DUW4 MAY KAE4LKYUWLEY3SHUNZ AAN DHAH KUMPYUW4TER.
Try typing it into the SAYIT program compared to the unstressed version.
How about really unusual stress? When you place extraordinary emphasis on a word, you do so by elongating its vowel sounds. S.A.M. can do the same thing. For example, a call for help can become "/HEH5EH4EH3EH2EH2EH3EH4EH5EHLP." You can always do this with the ordinary vowel sounds, but be careful with the diphthongs. They are complex sounds and if you repeat them, they will not do what you want (e.g. "OYOYOYOYOYOY" sounds just like it reads in English). To extend the diphthong sounds, you need to break them into component parts. So "OY" can be extended with "OHOHIYIYIY", and "AY" can be extended with "AAAAIYIYIY". You should experiment to find out just what you can do.
Unlike many other speech synthesis systems, S.A.M. allows you to control consonant stresses directly. This is usually done to produce a special tonal pattern in a word. Sometimes you might want a pitch rise on the final phoneme occurring just before a comma. For example, try typing: "AY4 YUWZ SAE5M3, AE4ND RIYSAY4TER." Notice how the pitch rises on the "M". It is never necessary to specify stress for a consonant occurring immediately before a stressed vowel. This is handled automatically.
Try to become familiar with the stress marker system. It makes all the difference between an ordinary speech synthesizer and the very expressive S.A.M.
S.A.M. understands four punctuation marks. They are the hyphen, comma, period, and question mark.
The hyphen (-) serves to mark clause boundaries by inserting a short pause in the speech. It also has other uses to be discussed later. The comma marks phrase boundaries and inserts a pause approximately double that of the hyphen. The question-mark and period mark the end of sentences, The period inserts a pause and also causes the pitch to fall. The question-mark also inserts a pause, but it causes the pitch to rise. Notice that not all questions should end with a question mark (rising pitch), only those that require a yes-or-no answer. ("Are we hiking today?" rises; "Why are we going to the woods?" falls at the end and should be marked with a period).
S.A.M. is capable of speaking only 2.5 seconds of speech without a break (this is the size of his "breath"). If the string to be spoken exceeds this, S.A.M. will insert short breaks every 2.5 seconds. S.A.M. always breaks at punctuation marks in anticipation of the following phrase. So, if you don't like where S.A.M. broke up a phrase, you can specify your own breaks with hypens. An example of this is: "I use the telephone - to call out of town".
S.A.M. uses the spaces between words to makes his sentence-breaking decisions. If a single word requires more than 2.5 seconds to say, S.A.M. will not be able to insert his own breaks and will therefore be unable to say the word.
In summary, the procedures outlined above may seem complex, but this is because they were presented in fine detail. In reality, the steps become automatic and you will soon be able to type in phonetics almost as fast as you can type English text.
S.A.M. is capable of speaking in a wide range of tones and at many different rates. Both pitch and speed controls are accessed bysingle POKES to memory locations.
The following chart shows the effects of different values in the pitch and speed registers.*
| PITCH | |
| POKE PITCH,N | |
| N= | |
| 00-20 | impractical |
| 20-30 | very high |
| 30-40 | high |
| 40-50 | high normal |
| 50-70 | normal |
| 70-80 | low normal |
| 80-90 | low |
| 90-255 | very low |
| default = 64 |
| SPEED | |
| POKE SPEED,M | |
| M= | |
| 0-20 | impractical |
| 20-40 | very fast |
| 40-60 | fast |
| 60-70 | fast conversational |
| 70-75 | normal conversational |
| 75-90 | narrative |
| 90-100 | slow |
| 100-225 | very slow |
| default = 72 |
*see the memory reference chart for these locations
In recent years, many new speech synthesizers have appeared in the marketplace. The techniques they use vary widely depending on the intended application. Most synthesizers found in consumer products, such as talking televisions or microwave ovens, use a "speech compression" technique of one sort or another. These techniques require a person to speak the needed words or entire sentences. The speech waveform is then "compressed" using a mathematical algorithm and, as a result, can then be stored in a memory chip without taking up a lot of room. The synthesizer's job is to then take this compressed speech information and expand it back into the original waveform. Some of these systems work quite well, retaining the speaker's intonation and sometimes even his or her identity. The processes used in such synthesizers differ greatly from those used in unlimited vocabulary synthesizers like S.A.M.
Let's follow the evolution of an unlimited vocabulary speech synthesizer. First, we must define the task. Simply, we want to create a system that will synthesize any English utterance. One way to begin would be to record every possible utterance on tape and just play back the right one whenever we need it. This would take up more tape or computer memory than could ever exist, so this method is obviously not too practical.
The next method might be to record all the English words and play them back in a specific order to create sentences. This is certainly practical. It would take up a large amount of memory, but it would work. However, we have lost something in this process. The words now sound disjointed because we have "spliced" the sentence together. Also, the stress or inflection pattern of the sentence is either wrong or non-existent. If we wanted an accurate stress pattern, we would need to record every word in a number of different styles, at different pitches, etc.
Such a system needs too much memory. So, let's break things down even further and try to store as little as possible in memory. Instead of storing sentences or words or even syllables, we could store phonemes. Phonemes are the atoms of spoken language, the individual speech sounds. It turns out that English has a little over forty of them. Wow -- this takes up practically no memory at all! We could specify the phonemes in the order we need to create words and sentences and really have ourselves a system. So, we go and record the phonemes and play them back to say the sentence, "I am a computer." Why can we barely understand it? It seems we have broken things down a bit too far. When we chop the words down to this level and then try to reassemble them, everything that blends one sound into another is lost and the results are nothing less than horrible.
But all is not lost, Our efforts are not wasted because we have the acoustic phonetician to come to our rescue. These people deal in the study of speech sounds and they can tell us just how to repair our phoneme-based system. First, instead of recording the actual speech waveform, we only store the frequency spectrums. By doing this, we save memory and pick up other advantages. Second, we learn that we need to store some data about timing. These are numbers pertaining to the duration of each phoneme under different circumstances, and also some data on transition times so we can know how to blend a phoneme into its neighbors. Third, we devise a system of rules to deal with all this data and, much to our amazement, our computer is babbling in no time.
The advantages in synthesizing speech in this way are tremendous. We use very little memory for all the data and the rules to use that data, and we also gain the ability to specify inflection, timing, and intonation. This is because we have not stored actual speech sounds, only their spectrums. (You can think of this as a printer needing only four colors of ink to reproduce all the colors in a picture.)
Now, in actuality, we do not store all the spectrums, but only those that are targets. Each phoneme has associated with it a target spectrum which can be specified with very little data. The target may be thought of as a "frozen" speech sound, the sound you would be making if your mouth was frozen exactly in the middle of pronouncing the phoneme. The timing rules tell the synthesizer how to move from target to target in a manner that imitates the timing of a human talker.
S.A.M. is this type of synthesizer implemented entirely in software. It has the tables of phoneme spectra and timing, together with the rules for using this data to blend the sounds together into any English utterance we may have in mind. We have traded some quality from the method using all the recorded words, but what we have gained is versatility, practicality, and the ability to do it all in real time, with very little memory usage, on an inexpensive microcomputer.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
DAYS OF THE WEEK
MONTHS OF THE YEAR
NUMBERS
STATES AND PROVINCES
UNITS
- A - abandon = AHBAE4NDUN ability = AHBIH4LIXTIY able = EY4BUL abort = AHBOH4RT about = AHBAW4T above = AHBAH4V absolute = AE5BSOHLUW4T abuse = AHBYUW4S accelerate = EHKSEH4LEREYT accent = AE4KSEHNT accept = AEKSEH4PT access = AE4KSEHS accident = AE4KSIXDEHNT account = AHKAW4NT acknowledge = EHKNA4LIHJ action = AE4KSHUN active = AE4KTIHV address = AE4DREHS adjust = AHJAH4ST adult = AHDAH4LT advance = EHDVAE4NS adventure = AEDVEH4NCHER affair = AHFEY4R afford = AHFOH4RD after = AE4FTER age = EY4J agree = AHGRIY4 air = EH4R airplane = EH4RPLEYN alarm = AHLAA4RM algebra = AE4LJAXBRAH alien = EY4LIYIXN allow = AHLAW4 alone = AHLOW4N along = AHLAO4NX alphabet = AE4LFAXBEHT alternate = AO4LTERNIXT America = AHMEH4RIXKAH among = AHMAH4NX analysis = AHNAE4LIXSIXS and = AE4ND anger = AE4NXGER announce = AHNAW4NS answer = AE4NSER antenna = AENTEH4NAH anticipate = AENTIH4SIXPEYT apology = AHPAA4LAXJIY appear = AHPIY4R apple = AE4PUL appropriate = AHPROH4PRIYIXT approve = AHPRUW4V area = EH4RIYAH arm = AA4RM arrive = AHRAY4V ask = AE4SK assumption = AHSAH4MPSHUN astronomy = AHSTRAA4NUMIY Atari = AHTAA4RIY atom = AE4TUM attack = AHTAE4K audio = AO4DIYOW authority = AHTHOH4RIXTIY automatic = AO5TUMAE4TIXK auxiliary = AOKZIH4LYERIY available = AHVEH4LAXBUL - B - baby = BEY4BIY back = BAE4K bad = BAE4D balance = BAE4LIXNS bank = BAE4NXK bargain = BAA4RGUN base = BEY4S basic = BEY4SIHK battle = BAE4TUL beam = BIY4M beautiful = BYUW4TIXFUHL behave = BIY/HEY4V belief = BIXLIY4F beneficial = BEH4NAXFIH4SHUL betray = BIYTREY4 better = BEH4TER bible = BAY4BUL bibliography = BIH5BLIYAA4GRAXFIY bicycle = BAY4SIXKUL billion = BIH4LYUN binary = BAY4NEHRIY bite = BAY4T black = BAE4K blast = BLAE4ST block = BLAA4K blood = BLAH4D board = BOH4RD bomb = BAA4M book = BUH4K boot = BUW4T boss = BAO4S bottle = BAA4TUL bottom = BAA4TUM box = BAA4KS boy = BOY4 brain = BREY4N branch = BRAE4NCH break = BREY4K brief = BRIY4F bring = BRIH4NX broken = BROW4KIXN brother = BRAH4DHER budget = BAH4JIXT buffer = BAH4FER bug = BAH4G bureau = BYER4OW burglar = BER4GULER bus = BAH4S business = BIH4ZNIXS busy = BIH4ZIY by = BAY4 byfe = BAY4T - C - cabinet = KAE4BUNIXT cable KEY4BUL calculate = KAE4LKYAXLEYT calendar = KAE4LUNDER call = KAO4L calorie = KAE4LERIY cancel = KAE4NSUL candy = KAE4NDIY cant = KAE4NT capacity = KAXPAE4SIXTIY captain = KAE4PTIXN capture = KAE4PCHER card = KAA4RD careful = KEH4RFUHL carry = KEH4RIY cartridge = KAA4RTRIXJ case = KEY4S cashier = KAE4SHIY4R cassette = KAXSEH4T catalog = KAE4TULAOG celebrate = SEH4LAXBREYT celestial = SULEH4SCHIYUL Celsius = SEH4LSIYAXS center = SEH4NTER certain = SER4TQN challenge = CHAE4LIXNJ change = CHEY4NJ channel = CHAE4NUL chapter = CHAE4PTER charge = CHAA4RJ chauvenism = SHOH4VIXNIHZUM Cheese = CHIY4Z child = CHAY4LD children = CHIH4LDRIXN chocolate = CHAO4KLIXT choreography = KOH5RIYAA4GRAXFIY Christmas = KRIH4SMAXS church = CHER4CH cinema = SIH4NUMAH circle = SER4KUL circuit = SER4KIXT circumstance = SER4KUMSTAENS citizen = SIH4TIXSUN city = SIH4TIY classify = KLAE4SIXFAY clear = KLIY4R close = KLOW4Z coaxial = KOHAE4KSIYUL coffee = KAO4FIY coherent = KOW/HEH4RIXNT cold = KOW4LD college = KAA4LIXJ color = KAH4LER comfortable = KAH4MFTERBUL command = KUMAE4ND common = KAA4MUN company = KAHM4PUNIY complain = KUMPLEY4N complex = KUMPLEH4KS component = KAHMPOH4NUNT computer = KUMPYUW4TER condition = KUNDIH4SHUN conscience = KAA4NSHUNTS console = KAA4NSOHL control = KUNTROH4L conversation = KAA5NVERSEY4SHUN coordinate = KOHWOH4DUNIXT corporation = KOH5RPEREY4SHUN correction = KOHREH4KSHUN count = KAW4NT country = KAH4NTRIY cousin = KAH4ZIXN create = KRIYEY4T critical = KRIH4TIXKUL culture = KAH4LCHER curious = KYUH4RIYAXS - D - danger = DEY4NJER data = DEY4TAH decay = DIXKEY4 decibel = DEH4SIXBUL decrease = DIYKRIY4S definition = DEH5FUNIH4SHUN degree = DIXGRIY4 delay = DIXLEY4 demonstrate = DEH4MUNSTREYT department = DIYPAA4RTMIXNT desire = DIXZAY4ER develop = DIXVEH4LAHP dictionary = DIH4KSHUNEHRIY different = DIH4FRIXNT discount = DIH4SKAWNT distance = DIH4STIXNS distribution = DIH5STRAXBYUW4SHUN division = DIXVIH4ZHUN doctor = DAA4KTER double = DAH4BUL down = DAW4N drive = DRAY4V dungeon = DAH4NJUN - E - earth = ER4TH easy = IY4ZIY economics = IY5KUNAA4MIXKS education = EH5JUWKEY4SHUN either = IY4DHER eject = IXJEH4KT electricity = ULEHKTRIH4SIXTIY electronic = ULEHKTRAA4NIXK elementary = EH4LUMEH4NTRIY emphasis = EH4MFAXSIHS encyclopedia=EHNSAY5KLAXPIY4DIYAH energy = EH4NERJIY engineering = EH5NJUNIY4RIHNX enter = EH4NTER enunciate = IYNAH4NSIYEYT equal = IY4KWUL erase = IXREY4S error = EH4ROHR escape = EHSKEY4P estimate = EH4STUMIXT Europe = YUH4RAXP evil = IY4VUL exciting = EHKSAY4TIHNX explain = EHKSPLEY4N expression EHKSPREH4SHUN extra = EH4KSTRAH - F - face = FEY4S fail = FEY4L Fahrenheit = FEH4RIXN/HAYT false = FAO4LS family = FAE4MULIY fast = FAE4ST fatal = FEY4TUL father= FAA4DHER fault = FAO4LT female = FIY4MEYL fight = FAY4T figure = FIH4GYER file = FAY4L filter= FIH4LTER6 finance = FAY4NAENS find = FAY4ND finger = FIH4NXGER finish = FIH4NIXSH fire = FAY4ER first = FER4ST flavor = FLEY4VER flight = FLAY4T flow chart = FLOW4CHAART flower = FLAW4ER fluorescent = FLUHREH4SIXNT focus = FOW4KAXS follow = FAA4LOW foot = FUH5T force = FOH4RS formula = FOH4RMYUXLAH forward = FOH4RWERD fraction = FRAE4KSHUN fragile = FRAE4JUL freedom = FRIY4DUM frequency = FRIY4KWUNSIY from = FRAH4M fuel = FYUW4L full = FUH4L function = FAH4NXKSHUN fundamental = FAH5NDUMEH4NTUL fuse = FYUW4Z fusion = FYUWSZHUN future = FYUW4CHER - G - gain = GEY4N galaxy = GAE4LAXKSIY game = GEY4M garbage = GAA4RBIXJ gasoline = GAE4SULIYN gate = GEY4T general = JEH4NERUL generate = JEH4NEREYT genius = JIY4NYAXS gentle = JEH4NTUL genuine = JEH4NUYXIXN geometry = JIYAA4MIXTRIY get = GEH4T giant = JAY4IXNT gift = GIH4FT glass = GLAE4S gnome = NOW4M go = GOW4 gold = GOH4LD good = GUH4D gourmet = GUHRMEY4 government = GAH4VERNMEHNT grand = GRAE4ND graphic = GRAE4FIXK gravity = GRAE4VIXTIY ground = GRAW4ND guarantee = GAE4RIXNTIY4 guide = GAY4D gun = GAH4N gyroscope = JAY4RAXSKOWP - H - habit = /HAE4BIXT hacker = /HAE4KER hair = /HEH4R half = /HAE4F hallucination = /HULUW4SIXNEY5SHUN hand = /HAE4ND happy = /HAE4PIY hardware = /HAA4RDWEHR harmony = /HAA4RMUNIY have = /HAE4V head = /HEH4D heart = /HAA4RT helicopter = /HEH4LIXKAAPTER hello = /HEH4LOW here = /HIY4R hero = /HIY4ROW herta = /HER4TS hesitate = /HEH4ZIXTEY6T hexadecimal = !HEH5KSIXDEH4SUMUL high = /HAY4 history = /HIH4STERIY hobby = /HAA4BIY hold = /HOW4LD home = /HOW4M honest = AA4NIXST horoscope = /HOH4RAXSKOWP hospital = /HAA4SPIXTUL hour = AW4ER house = /HAW4S however = /HAWEH4VER huge /HYUW4J human = /HYUW4MUN humor = /HUYW4MER husband = /HAH4ZBUND hyper = /HAY4PER hypothesis = /HAYPAA4THAXSIHS - I - I = AY4 ice = AY4S idea = AYDIY4AX identical = AYDEH4NTIXKUL identity = AYDEH4N11XTIY illusion = IHLUX4ZHUN image = IH4MIXJ imagination = IHMAE4JIXNEY5SHUN immobilize = IXMOH4BULAYZ important = IHMPOH4RTUNT in = IH4N inch = IHN4CH included = IHNKLUX4DIXD income = IH4NKUM inconvenient = IHN5KUNVIY4NYUNT increase = IHNKRIY4S indeed = IHNDIY4D index = IH4NDEHKS indicate = IH4NDIXKEYT indirect = IH5NDEREH4KT individual = IH5NDIXVIH4JUWUL industry = IH4NDAHSTRIY inferior = IHNFIH4RIYER inflation = IHNFLEY4SHUN influence = IH4NFLUWIXNS information = IH5NFERMEY4SHUN -ing = IHNX inject = IHNJEH4KT injure = IH4NJER initial = IXNIH4SHUL inside = IHNSAY4D inspect = IHNSPEH4KT insulator = IH4NSULEYTER integer = IH4NTIXJER intelligent = IHNTEH4LIXJIXNT interest = IH4NTREHST interference = IH4NTERFIY4RIXNS intermittent = IH4NTERMIH4TNNT invader = IHNVEY4DER invent = IHNVEH4NT inverse = IH4NVERS involve = IHNVAA4LV iron = AY4ERN irrational = IHRAE4SHUNUL isolate = AY4SULEYT issue = IH4SHUW item = AY4TUM - J - jacket = JAE4KIXT jam = JAE4M jargon = JAA4RGUN jazz = JAE4Z jiffy = JIH4FIY job = JAA4B join = JOY4N joke = JOW4K judge = JAH4J jump = JAH4MP junction = JAH4NXKSHUN junior = JUW4NYER just = JAH4ST jail = JEY4L jewelry = JUW4LRIY journey = JER4NIY jungle JAH4NXGUL junk = JAH4NXK - K - keep = KIY4P key = KIY4 keyboard = KIY4BOHRD kilobyte = KIH4LAXBAYT kind = KAY4ND kingdom = KIH4NXGDUM knight = NAY4T knowledge = NAA4LIXJ - L - label = LEY4BUL lady = LEY4DIY language = LAE4NXGWIXJ large = LAA4RJ laser = LEY4ZER last = LAE4ST late = LEY4T laugh = LAE4F launch = LAO4NCH law = LAO4 layer = LEY4ER lead = LIY4D lease = LIY4S lecture = LEH4KCHER left = LEH4FT legal = LIY4GUL legend = LEH4JIXND leisure = LIY4ZHER length = LEH4NTH letter = LEH4TER level = LEH4VUL liberal = LIH4BERUL life = LAY4F lift = LIH4FT light = LAY4T like = LAY4K limit = LIH4MIXT linear = LIH4NIYER liquid = LIH4KWIXD list = LIH4ST listen = LIH4SIXN literature = LIH4TERIXCHER little = LIH4TU load = LOW4D local = LOW4KUL location = LOWKEY4SHUN lock = LAA4K logarithm = LAO4GERIH5DHUM logical = LAA4JIHKUL long = LAO4NX look = LUH4K loop = LUW4P lose = LOW4Z love = LAH4V low = LOW4 loyal = LOY4UL luminescence = LUW4MIXNEH5SIXNS lunatic = LUW4NAXTIH6K luxury = LAH4GZHERIY - M - machine = MAXSHIY4N madam = MAE4DUM made = MEY4D magazine = MAEGAXZIY4N magic = MAE4JIHK magnet = MAE4GNIXT magnitude = MAE4GNIHTUX5D mail = MEY4L main = MEY4N major = MEY4JER make = MEY4K malfunction = MAE5LFAH4NXKSHUN man = MAE4N manager = MAE4NIXJER maneuver = MUNUW4VER manipulate = MUNIH4PYUHLEYT manual = MAE4NYUWUL manufacture = MAE5NUYXFAE4KCHER many = MEH4NIY marginal = MAA4RJIXNUL market = MM4RKIXT marriage = MEH4RIXJ mass = MAE4S master = MAE4STER mate = MEY4T material = MAXTIH4RIYUL mathematics = MAE4THUMAE5TIXKS mature = MAXCHUX4R maximum = MAE4KSIXMUM may = MEY4 meaning = MUY4NIHNX measure = MEH4ZHER mechanical = MIXKAE4NIHKUL mechanism = MEH4KUNIHZUM media = MIY4DIYAH medical = MEH4DIXKUL medium = MIY4DIYUM member = MEH4MBER memory = MEH4MERIY mental = MEH4NTUL menu = MEH4NYUW merchandise = MER4CHUNDAY5S merge = MER4J metal = MEH4TUL meter = MIY4TER method = MEH4THIXD micro = MAY4KROW6 middle = MIH4DUL might = MAY4T mile = MAY4L military = MIH4LIXTEH6RIY million = MIH4LYUN mind = MAY4ND mineral = MIH4NERUL miniature = MIH4NIYAXCHER minimum = MIH4NIXMUM minus = MAY4NIXS miracle = MIH4RIXKUL miscellaneous = MIH5SULEY4NIYAXS missile = MIH4SUL mister = MIH4STER mixture = MIH4KSCHER mnemonic = NIXMAA4NIXK model = MAA4DUL modulation = MAA4JULEY5SHUN molecule = MAA4LIXKYUWL moment = MOH4MIXNT money = MAH4NIY monitor = MAA4NIXTER monolithic = MAANULIH4THIXK monotone = MAA4NAXTOW6N month = MAH4NTH moon = MUW4N morning = MOH4RNIHNX most = MOW4ST mother = MAH4DHER motion = MOW4SHUN motor = MOW4TER mouth = MAW4TH move = MUW4V much = MAH4CH multiply = MAH4LTIX6PLAY murder = MER4DER muscle = MAH4SUL music = MYUW4ZIXK must = MAH4ST my = MAY4 myself = MAYSEH4LF mystery = MIH4STERIY - N - naive = NAY5IY4V name = NEY4M narrate = NAE4REYT narrow = NAE4ROW natural = NAE4CHERUL nature = NEY4CHER navigate = NAE4VIXGEYT near= NIY4R need = NIY4D negative = NEH5GAXTIH6V negotiate NIXGOW4SHIYEYT neighborhood = NEY4BER/HUH6D nerve = NER4V neutral = NUX4TRUL news = NUW4Z nice = NAY4S night = NAY4T noise = NOY4Z nomenclature = NOH4MIXNKLEY6CHER none = NAH4N normal = NOH4RMUL north = NOH4RTH nose = NOW4Z notation = NOHTEY4SHUN notice = NOW4TIXS nothing = NAH4THIHNX now = NAW4 nuclear = NUX4KLIYER number= NAH4MBER - O - object = AA4BJEHKT obligation = AA5BLIXGEY4SHUN observe = AXBZER4V obvious = AA4BVIYAXS occational = AHKEY4ZHUNUL occupation = AA5KYUXPEY4SHUN ocean = OW4SHUN odd = AA4D of = AH4V off = AO4F offer = AO4FER office = AO4FIXS official = AHFIH4SHUL ogre = OW4GER ohm = OW4M oil = OY4L O.K. = OW4KEY old = OW4LD omen = OW4MUN on = AA4N open = OW4PUN operate = AA4PEREYT opinion = AHPIH4NYUN oppose = AHPOW4Z opposite = AA4PAXSIHT option = AA4PSHUN orbit = OH4RBIHT orchestra = OH4RKEHSTRAH order = OH4RDER ordinary = OH4RDIXNEHRIY organize = OH4GUNAYZ origin = OH4RIXJIXN oscillation = AA5SULEY4SHUN other = AH4DHER ought = AO4T out = AW4T outlet = AW4TLEHT output = AW4TPUHT outside = AWTSAY4D over = OW4VER own = OW4N oxygen = AA4KSAXJIXN - p - pack = PAEPAE4K package = PAE4KIXJ page = PEY4J paint = PEY4NT pair = PEH4R palace = PAE4LIXS panel = PAE4NUL paper = PEY4PER parabola = PERAE4BULAH paradox = PAE4RAXDAA6KS parallel = PAE4RULEH6L paragraph = PAE4RAXGRAEF pardon = PAA4RDUN parent = PEH4RUNT parity = PAE4RIXTIY park = PAA4RK part = PAA4RT particle = PAA4RTIXKUL particular = PAARTIH4KYUHLER pass = PAE4S patch = PAE4TCH pathetic = PAHTHEH4TIXK pattern = PAE4TERN pause = PAO4Z pay = PEY4 payroll = PEY4ROW6L peculiar = PIXKYUW4LYER penalty = PEH4NULTIY4 penetrate = PEH4NAXTREY6T perception = PERSEH4PSHUN perfect = PER4FIXKT period = PIH4RIYIXD permanent = PER4MUNIXNT permission = PERMIH4SHUN person = PER4SUN personality = PER4SUNAE5LIX1 perspective = PERSPEH4KTIXV pet = PEH4T phantom = FAE4NTUM phase = FEY4Z phenomenon = FUNAA4MIXNU philosophy = FULAA4SAHFIY phoneme = FOW4NIYM photo = FOW4TOW physical = FIH4ZIXKUL physics = FIH4ZIXKS piano = PYAE4NOW pick = PIH4K picture = PIH4KCHER pilot = PAY4LIXT pin = PIH4N pirate = PAY4RIXT pistol = PIH4STUL pitch = PIH4TCH pity = PIH4TIY place = PLEY4S plan = PLAE4N planet = PLAE4NIXT plastic = PLAE4STIxK plausible = PLAO4ZAXBUL play = PLEY4 please = PLIY4Z pleasure = PLEH4ZHER plectrum = PLEH4KTRUM plenty = PLEH4NTIY plot = PLAA4T plug = PLAH4G plus = PLAH4S poetry = POW4IXTRIY point = POY4NT poke = POW4K police = PULIY4S policy = PAA4LIXSIY polynomial = PAA5LIXNOH4MIYUL pop = PAA4P popular = PAA4PYULER population = PAA4PYULEY4SHUN port = POH4RT portable = POH4RTAXBUL positive = PAA4ZIXTIX6V position = PAXZIH4SHUN power= PAW4ER practice = PRAE4KTIHS precise = PRIXSAY4S prefer = PRIXFER4 preliminary = PREIXLIH4MIXNEHRIY prepare = PRIXPEH4R present = PREH4ZIXNT press = PREH4S pressure = PREH4SHER prevent = PRIXVEH4NT primary = PRAY4MEHRIY primitive = PRIH4MIXTIX6V prince = PRIH4NS princess = PRIH4NSEHS print = PRIH4NT private = PRAY4VIXT probably = PRAA4BAXBLIY problem = PRAA4BLUM proceed = PROHSIY4D process = PRAA4SEHS produce = PRAXDUW4S professional = PRAXFEH4SHUNUL professor = PRAHFEH4SER profit = PRAA4FIXT program = PROW4GRAEM project = PRAA4JEHKT promise = PRAA4MIHS pronounce = PRUNAW4NS proper = PRAA4PER proportional = PRAXPOH4RSHUNUL protect = PRAXTEH4KT proud = PRAW4D psychiatrist = SAYKAY4AXTRIX6ST public = PAH4BLIXK publish = PAH4BLIHSH pull = PUH4L pulse = PAH4LS pure = PYUW4R push = PUH4SH put = PUH4T - Q - quality = KWAA4LIXTIY quantity = KWAA4NTIXTIY question = KWEH4SCHUN quick= KWIH4K quiet = KWAY4IXT quit = KWIH4T quiz = KWIH4Z quote = KWOW4T quotient = KWOW4SHUNT - R - race = REY4S radar = REY4DAAR radiation = REY5DIYEY4SHUN radio = REY4DIYOW radius = REY4DIYAHS rain = REY4N random = RAE4NDUM range = REY4NJ rare = REH4R rate = REY4T rather = RAE4DHER ratio = REY4SHIYOW reach = RIY4CH reaction = RIYAE4KSHUN read = RIY4D realistic = RIY5LIH4STIXK reason = RIY4ZUN receive = RIXSIY4V reciter = RIXSAY4TER recognize = REH4KAXGNAYZ recommend = REH5KUMEH4ND record = REH4KERD recover = RIYKAH4VER rectangle = REH4KTAENXGUL reduce = RIXDUW4S refer = RIYFER4 reference = REH4FERIXNS reflection = RIXFLEH4KSHUN refrigerator = RIXFRIH4JEREYTER region = RIY4JUN register = REH4JIXSTER regular = REH4GYUXLER reject = RIXJEH4KT relativity = REH5LAXTIH4VIXTIY relax = RIXLAE4KS relay= RIY4LEY release = RIXLIY4S relief = RIYLIY4F religion = RIXLUH4JUN remain = RIYMEY4N remember = RIXMEH4MBER remove = RIYMUX4V rent = REH4NT repeat = RIXPIY4T replace = RIXPLEY4S reply = RIXPLAY4 report = RIXPOH4RT represent = REHPRIXZEH4NT reproduction = RIY5PRAXDAH4KSHUN republic = RIXPAH4BLIXK rescue = REH4SKYUW research = RIY4SERCH reserve = RIXZER4V resistance = RIXZIH4STUNS respect = RIXSPEH4KT response = RIXSPAA4NS rest = REH4ST restore = RIXSTOH4R retail = RIY4TEY6L return = RIXTER4N reverse = RIXVER4S review = RIXVYUW4 revolution = REH5VULUXWSHUN rhapsody = RAE4PSAXDIY rhythm = RIH4DHUM rich = RIH4CH ride = RAY4D ridiculous = RIXDIH4KYULAXS right = RAY4T rigid = RIH4JIXD ring = RIH4NX rise = RAY4Z river = RIH4VER road = ROW4D rocket = RAA4KIXT roll = ROH4L room = RUW4M rough = RAH4F round = RAW4ND rubber= RAH4BER rule = RUW4L run = RAH4N rush = RAH4SH - S - sabotage = SAE5BAXTAA6ZH sacrifice = SAE4KRIXFAYS sad = SAE4D safe = SEY4F safety = SEY4FTIY saint = SEY4NT sale = SEY4L S.A.M. = SAE4M same = SEY4M sample = SAE4MPUL sanctuary = SAE4NXKCHUWEH6RIY sandwich = SAE4NWIXCH sarcasm = SAA4IRKAEZUM satisfaction = SAE4TIXSFAE4KSHUN savage = SAE4VIXJ save = SEY4V say = SEY4 scale = SKEY4L scandal = SKAE4NDUL scarce = SKEY4RS scatter = SKAE4TER scenic = SIY4NIXK schedule = SKEH4JYUWL scheme = SKIY4M scholar = SKAA4LER school = SKUW4L science = SAY4IHNS scientific = SAY4UNTIH5FIXK scientific = SAY4AXNTIH5FIXK scissors = SIH4ZERZ score = SKOH4R scramble = SKRAE4MBUL scratch = SKRAE4CH scream = SKRIY4M screw = SKRUW4 script = SKRIH4PT scroll = SKROW4L seal = SIY4L search = SER4CH season = SIY4ZUN second = SEH4KUND secret = SIY4KRIXT secretary = SEH4KRIXTEH5RIY section = SEH4KSHUN security = SIXKYUH4RIXTIY see = SIY4 seek = SIY4K segment = SEH4GMIXNT self = SEH4LF sell = SEH4L semi- = SEH4MIY send = SEH4ND sensation = SEHNSEY4SHUN senior = SIY4NYER sense = SEH4NS sensible = SEH4NSIXBUL sensitive = SEH4NSIXTIX6V sentence = SEH4NTIXNS separate = SEH4PERIXT sequence = SIY4KWEHNS serial = SIH4RIYUL serious = SIH4RIYAHS serve = SER4V service = SER4VIXS session = SEH4SHUN set = SEH4T settle = SEH4TUL several = SEH4VERUL sex = SEH4KS shadow = SHAE4DOW shake = SHEY4K shame = SHEY4M shape = SHEY4P share = SHEY4R sharp = SHAA4RP she = SHIY4 sheet = SHIY4T shield = SHIY4LD shift = SHIH4FT shock = SHAA4K shoot = SHUW4T shop = SHAA4P short = SHOH4RT should = SHUH4D show = SHOW4 shy = SHAY4 sick = SIH4K side = SAY4D sight = SAY4T sign = SAY4N signal = SIH4GNUL silent = SAY4LIXNT silver = SIH4LVER similar = SIH4MULER simple = SIH4MPUL simplicity = SIHMPLIH4SIXTIY simulator = SIH4MYULEYTER sin = SIH4N single = SIH4NXGUL sinister = SIH4NIXSTER sir = SER4 siren = SAY4RIXN sit = SIH4T situation = SIH5CHUWEY4SHUN skeptical = SKEH4PTIXKUL sketch = SKEH4TCH skill = SKIH4L skip = SKIH4P slang = SLAE4NX sleep = SLIY4P sleeve = SLIY4V slip = SLIH4P slot = SLAA4T slow = SLOW4 small = SMAO4L smart = SMAA4RT smell = SMEH4L smooth = SMUW4DH snap = SNAE4P so = SOW4 social = SOW4SHUL society = SAXSAY4IXTIY soft = SAO4FT solar = SOW4LER soldier = SOH4LJER solemn = SAA4LUM solid = SAA4LIXD solitude = SAA4LIXTUW6D solution = SULUW4SHUN some = SAH4M somebody = SAH4MBAADIY song = SAO4NX soon = SUW4N sophisticated = SAXFIH4STIXKEYTIXD sorry = SAA4RIY sort = SOH4RT sound = SAW4ND south = SAW4TH space = SPEY4S spare = SPEY4R spatial = SPEY4SHUL speak = SPIY4K special = SPEH4SHUL specific = SPAXSIH4FIXK speculate = SPEH4KYULEYT speech = SPIY4CH speed = SPIY4D spell = SPEH4L spend = SPEH4ND sphere = SFIY4R spin = SPIH4N spiral = SPAY4RUL spirit = SPIH4RIXT splendid = SPLEH4NDIXD split = SPLIH4T spoil = SPOY4L spontaneous = SPAANTEY4NIYAHS sports = SPOH4RTS spot = SPAA4T spread = SPREH4D spring = SPRIH4NX spy = SPAY4 square = SKWEH4R squeeze = SKWIY4Z stability = STAXBIH4LIXTIY staff = STAE4F stand = STAE4ND standard = STAE4NDERD star = STAA4R start = STAA4RT state = STEY4T static = STAE4TIXK station = STEY4SHUN stay = STEY4 steady = STEH4DIY steer = STIY4R step = STEH4P stereo = STEH4RIYOW stick = STIH4K stimualte = STIH4MYULEYT stock = STAA4K stone = STOW4N stop = STAA4P store = STOH4R story = STOH4RIY straight = STREY4T strange = STREY4NJ strategy = STRAE4TIXJIY street = STRIY4T strength = STREY4NTH strike = STRAY4K strong = STRAO4NX structure = STRAH4KCHER stubborn = STAH4BERN student = STUW4DIXNT study = STAH4DIY stuff = STAH4F stupid = STUX4PIXD style = STAY4L subject = SAH4BJEHKT substance = SAH4BSTIXNS subtle = SAH4TUL succession = SAHKSEH4SHUN succeed = SAHKSIY4D such = SAH4CH sudden = SAH4DIXN suggest = SAHGJEH4ST sum = SAH4M summer = SAH4MER sun = SAH4N super = SUX4PER superb = SUXPER4B superior = SUXPIH4RIYER supply = SAXPLAY4 support = SAXPOH4RT sure = SHUX4R surprise = SERPRAY4Z surroundings = SERAW4NDIHNXGZ suspend = SAHSPEH4ND swear = SWEH4R sweep = SWIY4P swell = SWEH4L swing = SWIH4NX syllable = SIH4LAXBUL symbol = SIH4MBUL symbolic = SIHMBAA4LIXK symmetric = SIHMEH4TRIXK sympathy = SIH4MPAXTHIY synchronize = SIH4NXKRAX5NAYZ synonym = SIH4NUNIXM system = SIH4STUM synthesizer = SIH4NTHAXSAYZER - T - tab = TAE4B table = TEY4BUL tactical = TAE4KTIXKUL tail = TEY4L take = TEY4K talent = TAE4LIX6NT tall = TAO4L talk = TAO4K tap = TAE4P tape = TEY4P target = TAA4RGIXT task = TEY4ST tax = TAE4KS teach = TIY4CH team = TIY4M technical = TEH4KNIXKUL technology = TEHKNAA4LAXJIY telephone = TEH4LAX6FOWN television = TEH4LAX6VIXZHUN temper = TEH4MPER tender = TEH4NDER tense = TEH4NS tension = TEH4NSHUN term = TER4M terminal = TER4MIXNUL terrestrial = TER6EH4STRIY6UL terrible = TEH4RAXBUL territory = TEH4RAXTOH6RIY terror = TEH4RER6 test = TEH4ST testimony = TEH4STUMOHNIY text = TEH4KST than = DHAE4N than = DHAE4N thank = THAE4NXK that = DHAE4T the = DHAH4 theater = THIY4AHTER then = DHEH4N theorem = THIY4RUM theory = THIY4RIY thermometer = THERMAA4MIXTER thesis = THIY4SIXS they = DHEY4 thin = THIH4N thing = THIH4NX think = THIH4NXK this = DHIH4S thought = THAO4T threshold = THREH4SH/HOWLD through = THRUW4 ticket = TIH4KIXT tight = TAY4T time = TAY4M tiny = TAY4NIY tired = TAY4ERD title = TAY4TUL together = TUXGEH4DHER tolerance = TAA4LERIXNS tone = TOW4N tool = TUW4L top = TAA4P toss = TAO4S touch = TAH4CH tough = TAH4F tournament = TER4NUMIXNT toward = TOH4RD toward = TOW4RD town = TAW4N toy = TOY4 trace = TREY4S track = TRAE4K trade = TREY4D tradition = TRAXDIH4SHUN traffic = TRAE4FIXK trail = TREY4L trajectory = TRAXJEH4KTERY transaction = TRAENZAE4KSHUN transfer = TRAE4NSFER transform = TRAENSFOH4RM transistor = TRAENZIH4STER translate = TRAE4NZLEYT transmit = TRAE4NZMIXT transparent = TRAE5NSPEH4RIXNT transportation = TRAE5NZPOHRTEY4SHUN trap = TRAE4P treasury = TREH4ZHERIY tree = TRIY4 trek = TREH4K tremendous = TRIXMEH4NDAXS trespass = TREH4SPAES trial = TRAY4UL trangle = TRAY4AENXGUL trick = TRIH4K trgger = TRIH4GER trim = TRIH4M trip = TRIH4P triple = TRIH4PUL triumph = TRAY4AHMF troll = TROW4L trophy = TROW4FIY trouble = TRAH4BUL truck = TRAH4K true = TRUW4 truth = TRUW4TH trj = TRAY4 tune = TUW4N tunnel = TAH4NUL turn = TER4N tutor = TUW4TER twist = TWIH4ST type = TAY4P typewriter = TAY4PRAYTER - U - ugly = AH4GLIY ultimate = AH4LTAX6MIXT uncle = AH4NKUL under = AH4NDER understand = AH5NDERSTAE4ND uniform = YUW4NIXFOHRM union = YUW4NYUN unit = YUW4NIXT universal = YUW5NIXVER4SUL unless = AHNLEH4S up = AH4P upset = AHPSEH4T urge = EH4RJ use = YUW4S utility = YUWTIH4LIXTIY - V - vacation = VEYKEY4SHUN vacuum = VAE4KYUWM vague = VEY4G valid = VAE4LIXD value = VAE4LYUW valve = VAE4LV vanadium = VUNEY4DIYUM vapor = VEY4PER variation = VEH5RIYEY4SHUN various = VEH4RIYAHS vary = VEH4RIY veal = VIY4L vector = VEH4KTER vegetable = VEH4JTAXBUL vehicle = VIY4IX6KUL ventilate = VEH4NTULEYT verb = VER4B versatile = VER4SAXTUL verse = VER4S version = VER4ZHUN vertical = VER4TIXKUL very = VEH4RIY veto = VIY4TOW vibration = VAYBREY4SHUN vicinity = VAXSIH4NIXTIY victory = VIH4KTERIY video = VIH4DIYOW village = VIH4LIXJ vinyl = VAY4NUL violation = VAY4AXLEY5SHUN virtue = VER4CHUW visible = VIH4ZIXBUL visit = VIH4ZIXT vital = VAY4TUL vocabulary = VOHKAE4BYULEHRIY vocal = VOW4KUL voice = VOY4S volt = VOW4LT volume = VAA4LYUWM voluntary = VAA4LUNTEH5RIY vote = VOW4T vowel = VAW4UL voyage = VOY4IXJ video = VIH4DIYOW - W - wafer = WEY4FER wage = WEY4J wait = WEY4T wake = WEY4K walk = WAO4K wall = WAO4L war = WOH4R warm = WOH4RM warp = WOH4RP warranty = WOH5RIXNTIY4 wash = WAA4SH waste = WEY4ST watch = WAA4CH water = WAO4TER watt = WAA4T wave = WEY4V way = WEY4 weak = WIY4K wealth = WEH4LTH wear = WEH4R wedding = WEH4DIHNX week = WIY4K weight = WEY4 welcome = WEH4LKUM well = WEH4L were = WER4 what = WHAH4T wheel = WHIY4L when = WHEH4N which = WHIH4CH while = WHAY4L whisper = WHIH4SPER white = WHAY4T who = /HUW4 whole = /HOW4L wide = WAY4D wild = WAY4LD will = WIH4L win = WIH4N window = WIH4NDOW wing = WIH4NX winter = WIH4NTER wise = WAY4Z wish = WIH4SH with = WIH4TH wizard = WIH4ZERD woman = WUH4MUN women = WIH4MIXN wonder = WAH4NDER word = WER4D Wordrace = WER2DREYS work = WER4K world = WUH4RLD worry = WER4IY would = WUH4D wrap = RAE4P write = RAY4T wrong = RAO4NX - X - Zerox = ZIH4RAAKS X-ray = EH4KSREY xylophone = ZAY4LAXFOWN - Y - yacht = YAA4T yard = YAA4RD yawn = YAO4N year = YIH4R yellow = YEH4LOW yes = YEH4S you = YUW4 your = YOH4R youth = YUX4TH - Z - zany = ZEY4NIY zero = ZIY4ROW zig-zag = ZIH3GZAEG zip = ZIH4P zodiac = ZOW4DIY6AEK zone = ZOW4N - DAYS OF THE WEEK - Monday = MAH4NDEY Tuesday = TUW4ZDEY Wednesday = WEH4NZDEY Thursday = THER4ZDEY Friday = FRAY4DEY Saturday = SAE4TERDEY Sunday = SAH4NDEY - MONTHS OF THE YEAR - January = JAE4NYUXEHRIY February = FEH4BRUXEH6RIY March = MAA4RCH April = EY4PRIXL May= MEY4 June = JUW4N July = JUHLAY4 August = AO4GAXST September = SEHPTEH4MBER October = AAKTOW4BER November = NOHVEH4MBER December = DIHSEH4MBER - NUMBERS - one = WAH4N two = TUW4 three = THRIY4 four = FOH4R five = FAY4V six = SIH4KS seven = SEH4VIXN eight = EY4T nine = NAY4N ten = TEH4N eleven = IXLEH4VIXN twelve = TWEH4LV thirteen = THER4TIY6N twenty = TWEH4NTIY thirty = THER4TIY hundred = /HAH4NDRIXD thousand = THAW4ZUND million = MIH4LYUN - STATES AND PROVINCES - United States = YUWNAY4TIXD STEY4TS Alabama = AE4LAXBAE6MAX Alaska = AHLAE4SKAH Arizona = EH4RAXZOW5NAH Arkansas = AA4RKUNSAO California = KAE5LAXFOH4RNYAH Colorado = KAA5LAXRAA4DOW Connecticut = KAHNEH4TIXKAHT Delaware = DEH4LAXWEH6R Florida = FLOH4RIXDAH Georgia = JOH4RJAH Hawaii = /HAHWAY4IY Idaho = AY4DAH/HOW Illinois = IHLUNOY4 Indiana = IH5NDIYAE4NAH Iowa = AY4AHWAH Kansas = KAE4NZIXS Kentucky = KEHNTAH4KIY Louisiana = LUXIY4ZIYAE5NAH Maine = MEY4N Maryland = MEH4RULIXND Massachusetts = MAE5SAXCHUW4SIXTS Michigan = MIH4SAXGUN Minnesota = MIH5NAXSOW4TAH Mississippi = MIH5SIXSIH4PIY Missouri = MIHZUH4RIY Montana = MAANTAE4NAH Nebraska = NAXBRAE4SKAH Nevada = NAXVAE4DAH New Hampshire= NUW6/HAE4MPSHER New Jersey = NUWJER4ZIY New Mexico = NUWMEH4KSIXKOW New York = NUWYOH4RK North Carolina = NOH4RTH KEH5RULAY4NAH North Dakota= NOH4RTH DAHKOW4TAH Ohio = OW/HAY4OW Oklahoma = OWKLAX6/HOW4MAH Oregon = OH4RIXGUN Pennsylvania = PEH5NSULVEY4NYAH Rhode Island = ROW5D AY4LUND South Carolina = SAW4TH KEH5RULAY4NAH South Dakota = SAW4TH DAXKOW4TAH Tennessee = TEH5NAXSIY4 Texas = TEH4KSAXS Utah = YUW4TAO6 Vermont = VERMAA4NT Virginia = VERJIH4NYAH Washington = WAA4SHIHNXTAHN West Virginia = WEH5ST VERJIH4NYAH Wisconsin = WIHSKAA4NSUN Wyoming = WAYOW4MIHNX Provinces of Canada = PRAA4VIXNSIXZ AHV KAE4NAXDAH Alberta = AELBER4TAH British Columbia = BRIH4TIXSH KAHLAH4MBIYAH Manitoba = MAE5NIXTOW4BAH New Brunswich = NUWBRAH4NZWIXK Newfoundland = NUW4FIXNLIXND Nova Scotia = NOH4VAX5KOW4SHAH Ontario = AANTEH4RIYOW Prince Edward Island = PRIH5NS EH4DWERD AY4LUND Quebec = KUHBEH4K Saskatchewan = SAESKAE4CHAXWAAN - UNITS - units = YUW4NIXTS inches = IH4NCHIXZ feet = FIY4T yards = YAA4RDZ miles = MAY4LZ centimeters = SEH4NTIXMIY6TERZ kilometers = KIXLAA4MIXTERZ acres = EY4KERZ ounces = AW4NSIXZ pounds = PAW4NDZ tons = TAH4NZ grams = GRAE4MZ teaspoons = TIY4SPUWNZ cups = KAH4PS pints = PAY4NTS quarts = KWOH4RTS gallons = GAE4LUNZ liters = LIY4TERZ degrees = DAXGRIY4Z
If you have made a phonetic spelling mistake that causes S.A.M. to be unable to break your string down into phonemes, he will beep twice at you and come back to BASIC without speaking. The location of the bad letter in the string is stored for you to examine. Also, you may PEEK at this location in a program to see if there were any errors in spelling and then make the required changes.
Here is a sample error-checking and display program:
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100 SAM$="MAY VOY4C IHZ BIHZAA5R."
110 A=USR(8192)
120 IF PEEK(8211)<255 THEN GOSUB 1000
:REM ERROR CHECK
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1000 REM ERROR DISPLAY -- ERROR APPEARS IN INVERSE
1010 N=PEEK(8211):REM N IS POSITION OF ERROR
1020 SAM$(N,N) = CHR$(ASC(SAM$(N,N))+128)
1030 PRINT SAM$
1040 RETURN
The inverse character marks the spot where S.A.M. could no longer continue reading the string.USE IN BASIC
S.A.M. from BASIC performs all stack housekeeping that is required.
When S.A.M. completes vocal output,the NMIEN (Non-maskable Interrupt Enable) ($D40E) returns to the following conditions:
BIT 6 -- Vertical Blank Interrupt Enable = "on"
BIT 7 -- Display List Instruction Interrupt Enable = "on"
All other registers are returned to OS shadow values within 1/60 second after vocal output.
Note that during speech, the VBI is shut down so that the real-time clock registers (18, 19, 20) do not advance.
The screen blanks during vocal output because Direct Memory Access (DMA) causes gaps to be inserted into the speech waveform each time the 6502 processor waits for the ANTIC chip to access memory. The audible result is extremely distorted speech when the screen is on.
If this speech quality is desirable for some application (or the screen must remain on during speech), S.A.M. may be operated in the DMA-enabled mode by POKE-ing a "1" into the "lights" register: 8210. There are different speed and pitch addresses to be used in this case. To return to DMA-disabled speech, POKE a "0" into this register.
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Download GUESSNUM.BAS (Atari BASIC)
10 REM ---- GUESSNUM ---- 20 DIM SAM$(255),B$(50),C$(50) 30 SAM=8192:REM SAM'S ADDRE5S 40 GRAPHICS 2:? #6;"GUESS THE NUMBER":? #6;"BETWEEN 1 AND 100" 50 SETCOLOR 2,0,0 60 N=INT(99*RND(0))+1 70 SAM$="GEH3S DHAX NAH4MBER BIXTWIY5N WAH4N Q AEND WAHH6 /HAN4NDRIHD.":A=USR(SAM) 80 TRAP 80:INPUT G 90 IF G>99 THEN SAM$="DHAETS MON4R DHAEN WAHN /HAH4NDRIXD.":A=USR(SAM):GOTO 80 100 IF G<1 THEN SAM$="DHAE5TS LEH3S DHAEN WAH5N." :A=USR(SAM):GOTO 80 110 SAM$="" 120 IF G<10 THEN B$="":GOTO 340 130 DN G-9 GOTO 150,160,170,180,190,200,210,220,230,240 140 GOTO 250 150 B$="TEH4N":GOTO 460 160 B$="IHLEH4VIXN":GOTO 460 170 B$="TWEH4LV":GOTO 460 180 B$="THER4TIY6N":GOTO 460 190 B$="FOH4RTIY6N":GOTO 460 200 B$="FIH4FTIY6N":GOTO 460 210 B$="SIH4KSTIY6N":GOTO 460 220 B$="SEH4VUNTIY6N":GOTO 460 230 B$="EY4TIY6N":GOTO 460 240 B$="NAY4NTIY6N":GOTO 460 250 ON INT(G/10)-1 GOTO 260,270,280,290,300,310,320,330 260 B$="TWEH4NTIY6":GOTO 340 270 B$="THER4TIY6":GOTO 340 280 B$="FOH4RTIY6":GOTO 340 290 B$="FIH4FTIY6":GOTO 340 300 B$="SIH4KSTIY6":GOTO 340 310 B$="SEH4VUNTIY6":GOTO 340 320 B$="EY4T1Y6":GOTO 340 330 B$="NAY4NTIY6" 340 R=G-10*INT(G/10) 350 IF R=0 THEN GOTO 460 360 ON R GOTO 370,380,390.400,410,420,430,440,450 370 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="WAH5N":GOTO 460 380 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="TUW5":GOTO 460 390 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="THRIY5":GOTO 460 400 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="FOHR5":GOTO 460 410 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="FAY5V":GOTO 460 420 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="SIH5KS":GOTO 460 430 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="SEH5VUN":GOTO 460 440 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="EY5T":GOTO 460 450 B$(LEN(B$)+1)="NAY5N" 460 IF G>N+25 THEN C$=" IHZ MAH3CH TUW5 /HAY6." :GOTO 530 470 IF G>N+5 THEN C$=" IHZ TUW3 /HAY6." :GOTO 530 480 IF G>N THEN C$=" IHZ AN LIH3TUL TUW4 /HAY6, " :GOTO 530 490 IF C<N-25 THEN C$=" IHZ MAH3CH TUW4 LAXOW, " :GOTO 530 300 IF G<N-5 THEN C$=" IHZ TUW3 LAXOW. " :GOTO 530 310 IF CN THEN GOTO 80 350 ? :? :? :? :? :GOTO 60
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Improvements upon and modifications to the S.A.M. system may occur in the future. Such new versions of S.A.M. will be made available at nominal cost to registered S.A.M. owners.
We are also planning to release a new program called "SUPERECITER". RECITER presently has a pronunciation accuracy of about 90%. SUPERECITER will show a major improvement in this area. But, we need your help.
It you hear a word mispronounced by RECITER that you feel is important, jot it down. Send us your list of these words (or proper names) so that we may incorporate them into the expanded rule set of SUPERECITER. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated.
S.A.M. is an ongoing project at DON'T ASK Computer Software. We welcome your comments and suggestions on our software speech synthesis products.
PRINTED IN USA
Well, this little section wasn't in the original manual; however, I believe that these links are important enough to be included in the "2001 edition":
Antic's V: device handler -- Owners of S.A.M. can use this program to define the voice synthesizer as an I/O device-much like a printer (i.e. LIST V:).
an interesting magazine review comparing S.A.M. with his main competitor: the Voice Box by Alien Group.
NEW! an on-line English to S.A.M. translation utility by mindplay.