Josanne Cassar | Release of the Maltese Speech Engine V.1.3.0

The Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) and KPMG Crimsonwing have published the third release of the Maltese Speech Engine (Version 1.3.0).

A speech engine is software that gives your computer the ability to play back text in a spoken voice (referred to as text-to-speech or TTS. The Maltese Speech Engine (MSE) can handle Maltese text and produce the relevant correct pronunciation. The MSE therefore gives voice to screen readers, voice enabled educational software and communication software when handling Maltese text.

Since the original release in November 2013, FITA has collected feedback from end users about software issues and suggestions for improvements in the pronunciation of Maltese words. Users include persons with a visual impairment, persons with Dyslexia, education professionals, speech and communication therapists and students learning Maltese.

The latest version of the MSE (Version 1.3) was tested to work with MS Windows operating systems, up to Windows 10. Compatibility all the way back to Windows XP has been preserved, despite the fact that this operating system is no longer being supported by Microsoft.

Version 1.3 addresses some bugs and brings about the following improvements:

1. Improved volume range control to match newer speech software requirements. This also works with inline commands which enables users to tag text within a document so that it is read by a different voice, or at a different volume or speech rate.

2. The lexicon now stands at over 50,000 words including Maltese and foreign terms and acronyms that have become popular in recent years.

3. Included enhancements to improve compatibility with Clicker 7 reading and writing software thanks to collaboration with Cricksoft.

The latest work on the lexicon was carried out in collaboration with the Human Language Technology department of the University of Malta between 2015 and 2016, thanks to a student placement programme.

The Maltese Speech Engine can be downloaded from the FITA website at http://www.fitamalta.eu

If you wish to, you may also try the interactive online MSE demo from http://www.fitamalta.eu/projects/maltese-speech-engine-synthesis-erdf-114/mse-demo/

In conformance with the distribution license, all adaptations and enhancements to these components, automatically become the unrestricted property of FITA, who may make such improvements publicly available.

For more information, contact FITA on 25992048 or by email at info@fitamalta.eu

Release of the Maltese Speech Engine V.1.3.0

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