The word "Speech Synthesizer" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as [spitʃ sɪnθəsaɪzər]. The first syllable is pronounced as "spit" with an "s" sound followed by a "p" sound, and the second syllable is pronounced as "sɪn" with an "s" sound followed by an "ɪ" sound. The final syllable "əsaɪzər" is pronounced as "θə" with a "th" sound, followed by an "aɪ" sound, and ending with a "zər" sound.
A speech synthesizer, commonly known as a text-to-speech (TTS) system or voice synthesizer, refers to a computer-based technology that converts written text or any other form of input into audible and human-like speech. It is designed to replicate the patterns, intonation, and pronunciation of natural human speech, thus enabling the communication of text content to individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have difficulty reading written text.
Operating on algorithms and rules, a speech synthesizer analyzes the text input and applies linguistic principles to generate the corresponding spoken output. It encompasses three primary components: a text analysis module that breaks down the input into phonetic and linguistic units, a waveform generation module that converts the analyzed text into acoustic signals, and a prosody module that adds intonation, rhythm, and stress to generate expressive speech.
Speech synthesizers vary in their quality and capabilities, with some providing a highly natural and human-like output, while others may sound more robotic or artificial. Many modern speech synthesizers not only support multiple languages but also offer customizable voices, allowing users to choose from a range of options according to their preferences.
The applications of speech synthesizers are vast, extending beyond aiding visually-impaired individuals. They find utility in assistive technologies, navigation systems, call centers, language learning tools, entertainment, and more. Speech synthesizers continue to evolve, incorporating advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to produce even more natural-sounding voices, with the ultimate goal of creating indistinguishable synthetic speech from human speech.
The word "speech synthesizer" has a straightforward etymology that is derived from two main components: "speech" and "synthesizer".
1. Speech: The term "speech" originates from the Old English word "spǣc" which meant "expression, talk, utterance". It has Germanic roots and can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*speką" which means "speech, language". Over time, it evolved into the modern English term we use today to refer to the verbal expression of language.
2. Synthesizer: The term "synthesizer" is a combination of the Greek prefix "syn-" meaning "together" or "union", and the Greek word "tithenai" meaning "to place" or "to set". The word "synthesizer" was originally used in the field of chemistry to describe a process of combining elements to form a compound.