looking for language pronouncing software

[Bob]

I'd like to be able to type in a word or phrase and have a software program that will accurately pronounce that text material back for me.

For any term or phrase in that language.  Not just music.

For any common language used in music.

Good, accurate pronuncation is what I'm looking for.  I'm kind of doubting there would be an all-in-one program for that.  I'm interested in anything that does this.  If I need several programs, fine. 

I'm not looking for a text-to-speech program like Microsoft Sam.  That's way to crude. 

Any ideas?

Or a website too.  I've seen a few of those.  The only problem is the possibility of someone messing with things if anyone can record their own audio file.  And you have to be connected to the internet to use those.

[retrouvailles]

I would actually suggest learning the IPA and then looking up the IPA for the word or name in question. It isn't perfect, but it's certainly cheaper (free, actually) than buying an expensive software. Even Wikipedia and Wiktionary have the IPA listed for a lot of words, names, and phrases. It doesn't account for dialects and such, but it works. I've used it to help me with language learning and trying to figure out how to say certain phrases in other languages accurately.

[quantum]

I too would suggest learning IPA.  Vocalists do learn it.  It would facilitate communication regarding topics of diction with fellow musicians. 

I was taught IPA during my piano accompanying lessons, as the music frequently focused on vocal accompaniment. 

[Bob]

I've got the IPA list.  Still on my todo list to learn it some day.

I'm looking for somethign a little quicker for now though.

[retrouvailles]

There is also this site, which I use in supplement with the IPA when I am stumped:

https://www.forvo.com/

Again, it isn't perfect, for not many words are represented in some languages, and some of the pronunciations aren't good, but this is quick, easy, and free, and, if I'm not mistaken, that's what you're asking for.

[Bob]

That's getting pretty close.  Thanks. 

Now if I could take that with on a laptop.  That would be even better.  Although online in't so bad.

I don't mind paying for it if I have to.

[retrouvailles]

Well, what exactly do you need help with? Perhaps I could give you a more specific tool to use. Or do you just want something general? If that's the case, www.forvo.com and the IPA should be plenty of help.

[Bob]

Accurate, authentic pronuncation. 

I haven't mastered IPA.  I've tried to use the written out pronunciation piece in dictionary definitions.  But that's really slow for me and then it's relying only on me -- If I forget a rule, I end up with the wrong pronuncation. 

Not specific words just.. All of them.  Haha.  Anything I want.  In typical languages related to music.  Standard music languages -- Italian, German, French, Russian, Spanish, etc. 

Sometimes it's more that I want a quick check on whether I'm pronouncing a word right.

And I don't always want to think.  If the program spits out the word for me, that's less brainwork on my end.

[retrouvailles]

I really don't think such a program exists, for a computer will never have as good of a pronunciation as a human. That is why, in my opinion, www.forvo.com, which uses real people's voices, and the IPA will be the perfect combination. Once you master the IPA, it will never lie to you, unless it's inaccurately transcribed (unlikely if you are using a good source).

Oh, and by the way, never rely on pronunciation keys from dictionaries, for those can be incredibly misleading and, unlike the IPA, they don't use an established symbol key for accurately transcribing sounds, but rather a crude one that was devised by the dictionary companies.