Download DECtalk 5.01-E1 User Guide

Using in-line commands
Period and comma pause durations
At the default speaking rate of 200 WPM, DECtalk pauses about half a second after a
period, and about a sixth of a second after a comma. When the speaking rate changes,
pause durations are automatically adjusted.
To change the pause after a period or a comma and not change the speaking rate, use the
Period Pause [:period] and/or Comma Pause [:comma] in-line commands. For example,
reading a word list with an extended pause after each word allows a listener to copy the
words as they are spoken.
[:period 4500] apple. banana. strawberry.
Adds a period pause of 4,500 ms (4.5 seconds) to the default half-second pause. The
range for a period pause is -420 to 30,000 ms. A negative value shortens the default
period pause.
[:comma 4800] apple, banana, strawberry.
Adds a comma pause of 4,800 ms (4.8 seconds) to the default sixth of a second
pause. The range for a comma pause is -280 to 30,000 ms. A negative value
shortens the normal comma pause.
[:pp 0 :cp 0]
Resets the period pause and the comma pause to their default values.
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