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Read aloud can be an important way to learn to read or learn a language. There are three methods to accomplish this. For more information on this topic see our wiki (the top of each page has a link) and look for Sound, TTS and the category Blind.
1. TTS (Text to speech). This method uses a TTS engine to actually read the text itself with varying success. The is also used in talking GPS devices. It may or may not pronounce the words correctly. It can have a robot like generated voice or may have prerecorded voices that have phons recorded which are then assembled together to make the sounds. Several eBook readers support TTS although its use may be blocked on a particular book. It can also be available for computers and used to read text.
2. Prerecorded books can also be used which can be played back as an audio file while you read the book with a different program. Many devices support audio playback in the background while reading an ebook.
3. ePub 3 format has the ability to embed audio in the book itself with audio controls in the book interface. (Actually a form of this existed in ePub version 2 as well but I am not aware of any support for this.) Some tablet devices have support for ePub 3 and can use books of this type. This permits synchronization of sound and text in some cases.
4. A fourth solution is to use hardware and software designed for the blind but this is usually pretty expensive.
Again, to explore this further check the wiki.
Dale
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