Talk It! is an innovative text-to-speech program that teaches children how to pronounce words. Developed by SoftVoice and Microsoft, it was released as part of Microsoft Plus! for Kids in 1997 and has since become a popular choice for interactive educational software. It provides users with various custom voice settings and languages, allowing them to create their unique virtual “personalities” that can be used during learning sessions.

Functions

Talk It! features an intuitive user interface that allows kids to enter any text on the keyboard before they hear its pronunciation. The program offers 20 different “personalities,” representing various voices, ranging from male to female and childlike to robotic. Users also can change the pitch (from 1 to 999), speed (1 to 500), pitch quality (Natural, Monotone, Sung), and vocal effort (Normal, Breathing, Whispering). This feature enables users to customize their virtual personalities however they wish, thus making learning more personalized:

• 20 ‘Personalities’ – Allows users to choose between various voices for learning sessions;
• Changeable Pitch (1-999) – Create higher or lower-pitched tones for more engaging learning experiences;
• Changeable Speed (1-500) – Adjust speed according to learner preference;
• Pitch Quality Settings – Natural, Monotone, or Sung;
• Vocal Effort Settings – Normal, Breathing, or Whispering;
• English or Spanish Support – Accommodates non-native English speakers or those who want additional language instruction.

Conclusions

Talk It! is an excellent tool for introducing children of all ages into the world of language learning and pronunciation. Its intuitive user interface, customizable settings, and supportive language options make mastering new words a fun and rewarding experience. Whether you are looking for a tool for your classroom or something fun at home - Talk It! is definitely worth exploring further.