Speech Synthesis
Definition
Speech synthesis generates spoken language from text or other linguistic representations.
Speech synthesis produces an audio signal with spoken language from text or linguistic representations.
Simply explained
A system converts written words into an artificially generated voice that reads them aloud.
Why it matters in practice
The term helps to select, develop, evaluate AI systems in a well-founded manner and realistically assess their technical risks.
Example from business
An application reads status messages aloud for people who cannot use the screen.
Limits and pitfalls
- Incorrect pronunciation, unclear consent in voice cloning, and monotonous prosody can reduce usefulness and trust.
Origin & history
The field evolved from rule-based and concatenation systems to statistical and neural models such as Tacotron.
Use in mid-sized companies
- Possible application: An application reads status messages aloud for people who cannot use the screen.
Frequently asked questions
What does speech synthesis mean?
Speech synthesis generates an audio signal with spoken language from text or linguistic representations. What should be considered? Incorrect pronunciation, unclear consent in voice cloning, and monotonous prosody can reduce usefulness and trust.
Sources
- Speech Synthesis Markup Language 1.1 · W3C, Speech Synthesis Markup Language 1.1
Source checked on 10.10.2026. Editorial application examples are hypothetical; no evidence of real customer results.
Editorially reviewed on: