1. How-to make Slint speak (or not). Slint provides these screen readers and reviewers: espeakup, speehchd-up and fenrir on the console, orca in graphical environments. Additionally, several hardware speech synthesizers can be used in console mode, using speakup. fenrir can be installed with slapt-get, the other software are already installed in Slint64-14.2.1.2, up to date as of Thursday 11 June 2019. To enable or disable orca just type as regular user orca-on or orca-off. This stands for the user in concern and will be effective at next startx command or graphical log in. All console screen readers are managed running as root the command: speak-with Here is its output with no argument (if fenrir has not been installed it won't be mentioned): root[~]# speak-with Usage: /usr/sbin/speak-with or or none Choose a console screen reader to talk with among: espeakup (Console screen reader connecting espeak-ng and speakup) fenrir (Modular, flexible and fast console screen reader) speechd-up (Console screen reader connecting Speech Dispatcher and speakup) or use one of the supported hard synthesizers: acntsa apollo audptr bns dectlk decext ltlk soft spkout txprt or type "/usr/sbin/speak-with none" to mute all screen readers. root[~]# The hardware speech synthesizers listed are those available in the running kernel or shipped as modules. Example of commands and associated output: root[~]# speak-with speechd-up Starting speechd-up Should speechd-up be also started at next boot? [Y/n] Done. As soon as you type the command, previously used screen readers will be stopped and speechd-up will begin talking. If you answer Y (the default) to the question: Should speechd-up be also started at next boot? spechd-up will be continue to be used at next boot. If instead you answer n the screen reader used before typing speak-with speechd-up will be used after next boot. Other examples: root[~]# speak-with apollo Stopping speechd-up... Should apollo be also used at next boot? [Y/n] Done. root[~]# speak-with none Do you also want a mute console at next boot? [Y/n] OK root[~]# 2. How to save and restore the settings of your screen reader. For orca, just make the changes in the Orca screen reader GUI. For espeakup, speechd-up and the hardware synthesizers, you can save the settings you make using keyboard shortcuts, for instance to increase or decrease the rate of seech or the sound volume. Just type as root: speakup-save These settings will be restored at next boot: the startup scripts rc.espeakup and rc.speechd-up runs the command speakup-restore for you. The settings of the running synthesizer are saved when you type speakup-save. If you then type the command using another synhesizer, its specific settings will also be saved. On the other hand, the speakup settings of espeakup and speehchd-up are the same, so those you save will be used restored for both, as both use the same speakup_soft driver. As a reminder, here are the key bindings for most settings that you might want to save: spk key_f9 = punctuation_level_decrease spk key_f10 = punctuation_level_increase spk key_f11 = reading_punctuation_decrease spk key_f12 = reading_punctuation_increase spk key_1 = volume_decrease spk key_2 = volume_increase spk key_3 = pitch_decrease spk key_4 = pitch_increase spk key_5 = rate_decrease spk key_6 = rate_increase In the table above spk is the speakup key CapLock, or Ins/0 on a numeric keypad. For instance to increase the rate you could press and hold the CapsLock key then press the 6 key. Some settings available only on specific hardware synthesizers do not have associated key bindings. Then to set a new value you echo it in /sys/accessibility/speakup// For instance to change the voice in use by an apollo 2 you could write: echo 2 > /sys/accessibility/speakup/apollo/voice speakup-save will also save this setting. Caveat: I never used a speech synthesizer, so the explanation below is only an assumption based in the speakup_apollo driver, consistent with is manual, found in: https://archive.org/stream/DolphinApollo2Manual/Dolphin_Apollo_2_Manual_djvu.txt 3. How to make emacs speak You can use either emacspeak or speechd-el. To enable or disable one of them type as regular either one of these commands: switch-on emacspeak switch-on speechd-el switch-off emacspeak switch-off speechd-el Then just type: emacs Enabling one of these software disables the other one. 4. Credits Thanks to the developers of aforementioned software. The scripts speak-with, speakup-save and speakup-restore are genuine but their logic is inspired by the scripts talkwith and speakupconf written respectively by the Speakup Team and Charles Hallenbeck, the Speakup Team and Steve Holmes. Didier Spaier Sunday 2 June 2019 Last modified on 10 June 2019