Re: [css-speech] Heads-up: CSS WG plans last call for css3-speech (part 2)

Hello Paul, thank you for your comments.

SSML1.1 normatively references BCP47, which defines not only the syntax for language identifiers (used in xml:lang [1] and in the 'languages' attribute [2] of SSML markup), but also the language matching algorithm. Furthermore, the voice selection algorithm in SSML 1.1 relies on the "voice descriptions" [3] and "onlangfailure" [4] conformance requirements ('must') for speech processors.

CSS Level 3 supports a looser language model [5] (which doesn't normatively reference BCP47), and the Speech Module relies on a number of implementation-dependent properties of the underlying speech processor [6] (i.e. areas where there is no such strict conformance requirements as the ones in SSML). Although we aim at matching most SSML features, there is no 1-to-1 mapping due to intrinsic technical differences between SSML versus CSS document models.

On a more pragmatic note, I am in favor of managing complexity in order to encourage uptake amongst browser vendors and implementors within the e-book publishing field, at least for Level 3. The next Level of CSS Speech is likely to address shortcomings such as the lack of strict language support, 3D spatial audio, etc.

To conclude, I propose to defer the introduction of an equivalent to SSML's 'languages' attribute to the next major revision of CSS Speech.

Let us know if this satisfies you.
Kind regards, Daniel

[1]
http://www.w3.org/TR/speech-synthesis11/#adef_xmllang

[2]
http://www.w3.org/TR/speech-synthesis11/#adef_voice

[3]
http://www.w3.org/TR/speech-synthesis11/#voice_descriptions

[4]
http://www.w3.org/TR/speech-synthesis11/#adef_onlangfailure

[5]
http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-selectors/#lang-pseudo

[6]
http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-speech/#voice-selection

On 18 Aug 2011, at 12:00, <paul.bagshaw@orange-ftgroup.com> <paul.bagshaw@orange-ftgroup.com> wrote:

> Bert,
>  
> Continuing comments...
>  
> 2. <languages> value need for voice selection in 'voice-family' property.
>  
> SSML 1.1 has made a significant move from SSML 1.0 in its voice selection algorithm. It has brought a much needed clarification between the language of written content and the language(s) spoken by a particular voice (to allow, for example, a French voice to read an English film title). The xml:lang attribute is used by SSML 1.1 only to designate the language of written content. The SSML 1.1 <voice> element takes an optional 'languages' attribute "indicating the list of languages the voice is desired to speak".
>  
> It is desirable to give access to this attribute via the 'voice-family' property.
>  
> The voice selection algorithm proposed by the CSS-Speech module should consequently to put in line with that specified by SSML 1.1.
>  
> Regards,
> Paul Bagshaw
> Co-author of SSML 1.1 and PLS 1.0.
>  
> -----Original Message-----
> From: w3c-voice-wg-request@w3.org [mailto:w3c-voice-wg-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Bert Bos
> Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2011 12:32 AM
> To: w3c-wai-pf@w3.org; w3c-voice-wg@w3.org; member-xg-htmlspeech@w3.org; wai-xtech@w3.org
> Cc: chairs@w3.org
> Subject: Heads-up: CSS WG plans last call for css3-speech
>  
> Hello chairs,
>  
> The CSS WG decided to issue a last call for the CSS Speech Module. We're planning to publish next week, with a deadline for comments of 30 September, i.e., about 6 weeks.
>  
> Please, let us know if that deadline is too soon.
>  
> We'd especially like to hear from
>  
>   - WAI PF and/or HTML Accessibility TF
>   - Voice Browser WG
>   - HTML Speech XG
>  
> The latest editor's draft is here:
>  
>     http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-speech/
>  
> (The content is what will be published, after reformatting for Working Draft.)
>  
> The CSS Speech module contains properties to style the rendering of documents via a speech synthesizer: voice, volume, speed, pitch, pauses, etc. It is designed to be compatible with SSML, i.e., the rendering of the document could be in the form of an SSML stream.
>  
>  
>  
> For the CSS WG,
>  
> Bert
> --
>   Bert Bos                                ( W 3 C )http://www.w3.org/
>   http://www.w3.org/people/bos                               W3C/ERCIM
>   bert@w3.org                             2004 Rt des Lucioles / BP 93
>   +33 (0)4 92 38 76 92            06902 Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
>  
>

Received on Thursday, 8 September 2011 16:08:38 UTC