Methods for controlling the generation of speech from text representing one or more names
First Claim
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1. A method of generating speech from a text segment including at least one name, the method comprising the steps of:
- analyzing the beginning of the text segment to identify any prefixed title included in the text segment;
reducing the prosodic salience of any identified prefixed titles;
inserting a pause between any identified prefixed title and following text included in the text segment; and
operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment, the generated speech reflecting the reduced prosodic salience of any identified prefixed title and any inserted pause.
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Abstract
Improved automated synthesis of human audible speech from text is disclosed. Performance enhancement of the underlying text comprehensibility is obtained through prosodic treatment of the synthesized material, improved speaking rate treatment, and improved methods of spelling words or terms for the system user. Prosodic shaping of text sequences appropriate for the discourse in large groupings of text segments, with prosodic boundaries developed to indicate conceptual units within the text groupings, is implemented in a preferred embodiment.
231 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of generating speech from a text segment including at least one name, the method comprising the steps of:
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analyzing the beginning of the text segment to identify any prefixed title included in the text segment; reducing the prosodic salience of any identified prefixed titles; inserting a pause between any identified prefixed title and following text included in the text segment; and operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment, the generated speech reflecting the reduced prosodic salience of any identified prefixed title and any inserted pause.
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2. A method of generating speech from a text segment, the method comprising the steps of:
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analyzing the beginning of the text segment to identify any prefixed title included in the text segment; reducing the prosodic salience of any identified prefixed titles; inserting a pause between any identified prefixed title and following text included in the text segment; analyzing the text segment to identify any separable accentable suffixes included in the text segment; introducing a pause before any identified separable accentable suffice; emphasizing any identified separable accentable suffice; and operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment, the generated speech reflecting the reduced prosodic salience of any identified prefixed title and any inserted pause. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of generating speech from a text segment including a plurality of words and an initial, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting, before the initial included in the text segment, an announcement of the initial'"'"'s letter status, if it is determined through the use of a look-up table that said initial might be confused with a like sounding name; and operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment and the inserted announcement.
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16. A method of generating speech from a text segment including a plurality of words and an initial, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting, before the initial included in the text segment, an announcement of the initial'"'"'s letter status; and operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment and the inserted announcement. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of generating speech from a text segment including a plurality of words, the method comprising the steps of:
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analyzing the beginning of the text segment to identify any prefixed title included in the text segment; reducing the prosodic salience of any identified prefixed titles; analyzing the text segment to identify any separable accentable suffixes included in the text segment; introducing a pause before any identified separable accentable suffice; emphasizing any identified separable accentable suffice; and operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment, the generated speech reflecting the reduced prosodic salience of any identified prefixed title and the emphasizing of any identified separable accentable suffice. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of generating speech from a text segment including a prefixed title followed by words, the title and words representing a name, the method comprising the steps of:
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analyzing the beginning of the text segment to identify any prefixed title included in the text segment; controlling the prosodic salience of any identified prefixed title to be lower than the words in the text segment following the prefixed title; inserting a pause between any identified prefixed title and following text included in the text segment; and operating a speech synthesizer to generate speech from the text segment, the generated speech reflecting the controlled prosodic salience of any identified prefixed title and any inserted pause.
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Specification