In Slint we set at system level libao as default audio output method, then in
/etc/libao.conf alsa as default driver.
We also set espeak-ng as default output module as it provides voices for more
languages that any other one
Didier Spaier

diff -ru speech-dispatcher-0.11.5/config/speechd.conf speech-dispatcher-0.11.5.new/config/speechd.conf
--- speech-dispatcher-0.11.5/config/speechd.conf	2023-08-06 18:25:02.000000000 +0200
+++ speech-dispatcher-0.11.5.new/config/speechd.conf	2024-02-12 11:37:29.179239863 +0100
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
 # different sound systems and provides alternative output for Pulse Audio
 # and ALSA as well as for other backends.
 
-# AudioOutputMethod "pulse"
+AudioOutputMethod "libao"
 
 # -- Pulse Audio parameters --
 
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
 # The DefaultModule selects which output module is the default.  You
 # must use one of the names of the modules loaded with AddModule.
 
-# DefaultModule espeak-ng
+DefaultModule espeak-ng
 
 # The LanguageDefaultModule selects which output modules are preferred
 # for specified languages.