A microcomputer-based speech synthesis-by-rule system

Abstract

This paper describes a system for generating speech by rule from a phonetic representation, using a resonance analogue speech synthesizer driven by parameters which are computed in real time by a microcomputer. Input to it, in the form of a phonetic transcription with additional markers to control rhythm and intonation, can come from a terminal attached to the microcomputer, or from a host computer linked to it by a serial line. A novel feature of the implementation is the use of a high-level structured programming language, “C”, which is compiled on the host and transmitted to the microcomputer as object code. This allows changes to be made quickly to the segmental and suprasegmental synthesis routines, which are still under development, and combines flexibility with ease of use in man-machine applications requiring speech output. To the host, the microcomputer/synthesizer system is simply a character-oriented low-data-rate output device.