SPEECH SAMPLES LIBRARY FOR TEXT-TO-SPEECH AND METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING AND USING SAME

A method of recording speech for use in a speech samples library. In an exemplary embodiment, the method comprises recording a speaker pronouncing a phoneme with musical parameters characterizing pronunciation of another phoneme by the same or another speaker. For example, in one embodiment the method comprises: providing a recording of a first speaker pronouncing a first phoneme in a phonemic context. The pronunciation is characterized by some musical parameters. A second reader, who may be the same as the first reader, is then recorded pronouncing a second phoneme (different from the first phoneme) with the musical parameters that characterizes pronunciation of the first phoneme by the first speaker. The recordings made by the second reader are used for compiling a speech samples library.