TTS bug

jonnyace · 01-26-2011, 12:28 AM

Hello all,

I would like to report a TTS bug. I can reproduce this on my Kindle 3 (Wifi) and I wonder if others can experience this too.

It seems that the TTS has problems with a number of common words/phrases:

- in fact
- father
- family
- Dr (abbrev of doctor)

To see this: create a TXT file with some sentences with the above words. Use Calibre or something equivalent to convert to a mobi document (Kindle can do TTS with Mobi), and use TTS to read it.

In addition, Kindle also rushes over certain punctuation marks, extra whitespaces like when occuring at start of chapter, parentheses.

These are minor glitches which are confusing and irritating and mar the otherwise very solid TTS experience.

DiapDealer · 01-26-2011, 12:42 AM

I turn TTS on every now and then to get a giggle. The speech synthesizer on my TI-99/4A talked much more gooder than my Kindle.

(for those who potentially NEED the feature... I hope it gets better for you)

=X= · 01-26-2011, 12:43 AM

Yes I've also seen "mass." read as Massachusetts. Also "lead" as in the metal is always pronounced. There are a few more thatbi cannot remember.

But these errors don't only happen with the kindle Microsoft 's Lit files alsobbhave the same error.

=X= · 01-26-2011, 12:48 AM

I think it's a great feature and works well enough. My biggest complaint is the lag a faster processer would produce be perfect.

I'm fine with the grammar errors, if i wasn't, I'd quit surfing the web.

DMSmillie · 01-26-2011, 02:02 AM

I'm just glad I don't have to rely on text-to-speech - on my Kindle, it treats commas as if they were full stops (periods), but ignores full stops completely, running one sentence into the next. Makes it almost impossible to follow the meaning of the text being read out.

DreamWriter · 01-26-2011, 02:26 AM

Sometimes the text-to-speech mispronunciations make me laugh out loud!

It came to "Mmm-mmm" and spoke it as the letter "M" in very rapid succession ("em em em em em em"). I thought it got stuck for a second! In one book, "New York" was used quite frequently. Every time, TTS would speak it with a very long pause between the two words. In another book, the word "fu**ers" was in the middle of a sentence and it practically shouted the word (with great emphasis). There have been some other interesting ones.

But, all in all, I think TTS does okay for what it is. I actually use it a lot. I track the words with my eyes while listening, so I'm able to get the meaning. I guess I'm used to its peculiarities.

jonnyace · 01-26-2011, 03:36 AM

I've also noticed about "New York". However, while some mispronunciations are kind of understandable, the few I've listed are plain weird:
a. "father" is pronounced like "clavicle".
b. "in fact" is pronounced like "engine".
c. "family"... well, this is garbled.

These are common, English words. Not place names, not abbreviations, i.e., no excuse at all. Anybody noticed this?

And let me clarify, I think TTS is great. It is really useful, for instance, when reading while eating: you don't have to press the page-down button. Also, when reading in lowlight, TTS helps ease eyestrain.

=X= · 01-26-2011, 11:22 AM

I use TTS on my commute. I have a FM transmitter that hooks up to the lighter (for juice) and a 3.5mm jack that hooks up to the kindle. Before I drive I start the TTS and drive off.

They also sell battery operated FM transmitters for $10 at Wal Mart.

It's great for continuing to read a book when you need be on the go.

=X=

montalex · 01-26-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

Sometimes the text-to-speech mispronunciations make me laugh out loud!

It came to "Mmm-mmm" and spoke it as the letter "M" in very rapid succession ("em em em em em em"). I thought it got stuck for a second! In one book, "New York" was used quite frequently. Every time, TTS would speak it with a very long pause between the two words. In another book, the word "fu**ers" was in the middle of a sentence and it practically shouted the word (with great emphasis). There have been some other interesting ones.

I laughed out loud when I read this. Thanks for that. I have Dragonspeak installed on my computer, and I loved getting a soft woman's voice to read nasty sexist rap lyrics. My son and I would be in tears.

whitearrow · 01-26-2011, 06:32 PM

Reminds me of my GPS. I frequently use Civic Center Drive which the GPS abbreviates as Civic Center Dr because of space. The GPS voice pronounces it as "Civic Center Doctor."

Though my GPS does have a far more pleasant speaking voice than the Kindle does.

jonnyace · 02-23-2011, 01:10 AM

Just an update. After many tests, I confirmed that my Kindle TTS was mispronouncing ALL words starting with "fa"., e.g., "father", "fact", etc. It was mispronouncing them in such a weird, far-out way that it could only be a bug. However, after upgrading to firmware 3.1, I noticed that this particular TTS error no longer occurs. I am just that much happier now.

Marker · 02-23-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

I use TTS on my commute. I have a FM transmitter that hooks up to the lighter (for juice) and a 3.5mm jack that hooks up to the kindle. Before I drive I start the TTS and drive off.

They also sell battery operated FM transmitters for $10 at Wal Mart.

It's great for continuing to read a book when you need be on the go.

=X=

I am in the process of doing research before purchasing and do not understand your post at all.

Why do you need an FM transmitter? Do they not have a 12 volt adapter to use in the car? If not is the 3.5 mm jack part of the FM Transmitter?

Sorry for the stupid question, but I do not have the unit just yet.

FF2 · 02-23-2011, 06:40 PM

You can use a car adapter (cigarette lighter adapter under the old names) but I think the person just wanted to get better/louder sound and transmits to their car radio.

curstpriest · 02-24-2011, 09:31 AM

it's great how it randomly thinks titles are abbreviations
dr. = drive instead of doctor
miss. = Mississippi at end of line

And it is really not true that TTS as a technology is not good. Quality TTS engines exist (I have used AT&T natural voice engine, as well as others that use context prediction to calculate inflection and reduce mispronunciations, and they do an incredible job. This technology is pretty old too, atleast 5 if not 10 or more years...

HarryT · 02-24-2011, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curstpriest

it's great how it randomly thinks titles are abbreviations
dr. = drive instead of doctor
miss. = Mississippi at end of line

And it is really not true that TTS as a technology is not good. Quality TTS engines exist (I have used AT&T natural voice engine, as well as others that use context prediction to calculate inflection and reduce mispronunciations, and they do an incredible job. This technology is pretty old too, atleast 5 if not 10 or more years...

PC-based TTS systems generally use a pronunciation dictionary for "problem" words. I suspect that, for reasons of size, the Kindle TTS one isn't dictionary-based, which will result in more errors.

01-26-2011, 12:28 AM	#1
jonnyace Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Amazon Kindle 3	TTS bug Hello all, I would like to report a TTS bug. I can reproduce this on my Kindle 3 (Wifi) and I wonder if others can experience this too. It seems that the TTS has problems with a number of common words/phrases: - in fact - father - family - Dr (abbrev of doctor) To see this: create a TXT file with some sentences with the above words. Use Calibre or something equivalent to convert to a mobi document (Kindle can do TTS with Mobi), and use TTS to read it. In addition, Kindle also rushes over certain punctuation marks, extra whitespaces like when occuring at start of chapter, parentheses. These are minor glitches which are confusing and irritating and mar the otherwise very solid TTS experience.

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01-26-2011, 12:42 AM	#2
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,549 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	I turn TTS on every now and then to get a giggle. The speech synthesizer on my TI-99/4A talked much more gooder than my Kindle. (for those who potentially NEED the feature... I hope it gets better for you)

01-26-2011, 12:43 AM	#3
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Yes I've also seen "mass." read as Massachusetts. Also "lead" as in the metal is always pronounced. There are a few more thatbi cannot remember. But these errors don't only happen with the kindle Microsoft 's Lit files alsobbhave the same error.

01-26-2011, 12:48 AM	#4
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	I think it's a great feature and works well enough. My biggest complaint is the lag a faster processer would produce be perfect. I'm fine with the grammar errors, if i wasn't, I'd quit surfing the web.

01-26-2011, 02:02 AM	#5
DMSmillie Enquiring Mind Posts: 562 Karma: 42350 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: London, UK Device: Kindle 3 (WiFi)	I'm just glad I don't have to rely on text-to-speech - on my Kindle, it treats commas as if they were full stops (periods), but ignores full stops completely, running one sentence into the next. Makes it almost impossible to follow the meaning of the text being read out.

01-26-2011, 02:26 AM	#6
DreamWriter Books are brain food. Posts: 2,950 Karma: 4836916 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Paperwhite · Fire HD6/HD8/HD10 · Galaxy Tab A7	Sometimes the text-to-speech mispronunciations make me laugh out loud! It came to "Mmm-mmm" and spoke it as the letter "M" in very rapid succession ("em em em em em em"). I thought it got stuck for a second! In one book, "New York" was used quite frequently. Every time, TTS would speak it with a very long pause between the two words. In another book, the word "fu**ers" was in the middle of a sentence and it practically shouted the word (with great emphasis). There have been some other interesting ones. But, all in all, I think TTS does okay for what it is. I actually use it a lot. I track the words with my eyes while listening, so I'm able to get the meaning. I guess I'm used to its peculiarities.

01-26-2011, 03:36 AM	#7
jonnyace Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Amazon Kindle 3	I've also noticed about "New York". However, while some mispronunciations are kind of understandable, the few I've listed are plain weird: a. "father" is pronounced like "clavicle". b. "in fact" is pronounced like "engine". c. "family"... well, this is garbled. These are common, English words. Not place names, not abbreviations, i.e., no excuse at all. Anybody noticed this? And let me clarify, I think TTS is great. It is really useful, for instance, when reading while eating: you don't have to press the page-down button. Also, when reading in lowlight, TTS helps ease eyestrain.

01-26-2011, 11:22 AM	#8
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	I use TTS on my commute. I have a FM transmitter that hooks up to the lighter (for juice) and a 3.5mm jack that hooks up to the kindle. Before I drive I start the TTS and drive off. They also sell battery operated FM transmitters for $10 at Wal Mart. It's great for continuing to read a book when you need be on the go. =X=

01-26-2011, 06:32 PM	#10
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Reminds me of my GPS. I frequently use Civic Center Drive which the GPS abbreviates as Civic Center Dr because of space. The GPS voice pronounces it as "Civic Center Doctor." Though my GPS does have a far more pleasant speaking voice than the Kindle does.

02-23-2011, 01:10 AM	#11
jonnyace Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Amazon Kindle 3	Just an update. After many tests, I confirmed that my Kindle TTS was mispronouncing ALL words starting with "fa"., e.g., "father", "fact", etc. It was mispronouncing them in such a weird, far-out way that it could only be a bug. However, after upgrading to firmware 3.1, I noticed that this particular TTS error no longer occurs. I am just that much happier now.

02-23-2011, 06:40 PM	#13
FF2 Wizard Posts: 1,105 Karma: 1025784 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: WiFi Kindle3	You can use a car adapter (cigarette lighter adapter under the old names) but I think the person just wanted to get better/louder sound and transmits to their car radio.

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02-24-2011, 09:31 AM	#14
curstpriest Confused Posts: 402 Karma: 5538 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Bay Area Device: Kindle DXG	it's great how it randomly thinks titles are abbreviations dr. = drive instead of doctor miss. = Mississippi at end of line And it is really not true that TTS as a technology is not good. Quality TTS engines exist (I have used AT&T natural voice engine, as well as others that use context prediction to calculate inflection and reduce mispronunciations, and they do an incredible job. This technology is pretty old too, atleast 5 if not 10 or more years...