Monday, May 10, 2021

Download voices for immersive reader read mode and read aloud

For customers using OneNote Learning Tools, Learning Tools in Word, and Read Aloud in the Editor pane in Office and the Microsoft Edge browser, this article documents ways to download new languages for the Text-to-Speech feature in different versions of Windows.

Install a new Text-to-Speech language in Windows 10

Within Windows 10 settings, you'll download the desired language and then set your speech language. 

  1. Select the Start button, and then select Settings.

    Start, Settings

  2. With the Windows Settings in view, select Time & Language.

    time and language

  3. Select Region & language, then select Add a language.

    alternate text

  4. Choose the language you want from the list. The language will begin to install. 

    add a language

  5. After the new language has been installed, select it in the Region & Language list, and then select Options.

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  6. Under Language options select the desired downloads (Language pack, Handwriting, and keyboard).

    alternate text

  7. Now you'll need to change your default speech options. Begin by selecting Speech

    alternate text

  8. From here, adjust your speech options:

    • Speech language select the dropdown to choose your desired language.

    • Recognize non-native accents for this language: check the box to activate this feature.

    • Text-to-speech: change your default voice, the speed of the voice, and preview the voice. 

  9. Finally, select Get started from the Microphone section to walk through the Cortana mic setup.

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Install a new Text-to-Speech language in Windows 8.1

On any edition of Windows 8.1, do the following:

  1. Open Control Panel.

  2. Click Language.

  3. Click Add a Language.

  4. In the list that opens, click the language you want to add, and then click the Add button at the bottom of the list.

  5. Under the language you've added, click Download and install language pack.

    Windows will download and install the language pack. You may be prompted to restart your PC.

After restarting your PC, you'll have the new language available for Text-to-Speech and the Learning Tools Immersive Reader will recognize the text on the page and read it in the correct language.

Text-to-Speech languages and voices available in Windows

Language (Region)

Windows 10 and Windows 8.1

Windows 8

Name

Gender

Chinese (Hong Kong)

Y

N

Tracy 

Female

Chinese (Taiwan)

Y

Y

Hanhan

Female

Chinese (People's Republic of China)

Y

Y

Huihui

Female

English (United States)

Y

Y

Zira

Female

English (United States)

Y

Y

David

Male

English (Great Britain) 

Y

Y

Hazel

Female

French (France)

Y

Y

Hortense

Female

German (Germany)

Y

Y

Hedda

Female

Italian (Italy)

Y

N

Elsa

Female

Japanese (Japan)

Y

Y

Haruka

Female

Korean (Korea)

Y

Y

Heami

Female

Polish (Poland)

Y

N

Paulina

Female

Portuguese (Brazil)

Y

N

Maria

Female

Russian (Russia)

Y

N

Irina

Female

Spanish (Mexico)

Y

N

Sabina

Female

Spanish (Spain)

Y

Y

Helena

Female


Third-party Text-to-Speech languages

Additional Text-to-Speech languages can be purchased from the following third-party providers:

Note: These options are provided for informational purposes only. Microsoft does not endorse any particular third-party software, nor can it offer any support for their installation and use. For help with these products, please contact their original manufacturer.

Open Source Text-to-Speech languages

Free Text-to-Speech languages are available for download from Open Source provider eSpeak. These languages work on Windows 7, but some may not yet work on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10. View a list of available eSpeak languages and codes for more information.

Download eSpeak languages

  1. In your browser, visit http://espeak.sourceforge.net/download.html.

  2. Download the "Compiled for Windows" version, titled setup_espeak-1.48.04.exe.

  3. When the download is finished, click Next at the first Setup screen to begin installation.

  4. Confirm the installation path, and then click Next.

  5. Enter the two-letter code(s) for the language(s) and flag(s) that you want to install. For example, if you wanted to add Text-to-Speech for English, Spanish, Polish, Swedish, and Czech, your screen would look like this:

    eSpeak installation dialog box

    To use alternate voices for a language, you can select additional commands to change various voice and pronunciation attributes. For more information, see http://espeak.sourceforge.net/voices.html. Preset voice variants can be applied to any of the language voices by appending a plus sign (+) and a variant name. The variants for male voices are +m1, +m2, +m3, +m4, +m5, +m6, and +m7. The variants for female voices are +f1, +f2, +f3, +f4, and +f5. You can also choose optional voice effects such as +croak or +whisper.

  6. Click Next twice, and then click Install.

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