Spell function

Force letter-by-letter pronunciation of codes, IDs, and acronyms using the spell() function for naturalistic pauses within the sequence.

When to use spell()

Use spell() when you need a letter or number sequence spelled out, one unit at a time.

spell() inserts naturalistic pauses within a sequence. It groups numbers and letters in threes where possible and pairs where necessary. For example, it breaks a standard 10-digit telephone number into:

4 2 5 <pause> 2 5 2 <pause> 8 9 <pause> 2 9

The same grouping applies to long words:

P E N <pause> E L O <pause> P E

spell() also inserts pauses when a mixed sequence transitions between letters and numbers:

P R M <pause> 4 2 3 <pause> G D D <pause> M L <pause> 2 3 <pause> 5 4

Any number, letter, or alphanumeric string inside spell() is read in full. The function also reads common symbols such as @ (at) and - (dash).

Use the request examples below to test each type of sequence.

spell() applied to words

If I want the sentence to read:

“The name is spelled J O N, A T H, A N.”

Input: the name is spelled spell(jonathan).

Coda

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "coda",
   "text": "the name is spelled spell(jonathan)."
}

Mist v3

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "mistv3",
   "text": "the name is spelled spell(jonathan)."
}

spell() applied to numbers

For number sequences, if I want the sentence to read:

“The number is 4 2 5, 2 5 2, 8 9, 2 9.”

Input: the number is spell(4252528929).

Coda

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "coda",
   "text": "the number is spell(4252528929)."
}

Mist v3

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "mistv3",
   "text": "the number is spell(4252528929)."
}

spell() applied to alphanumeric sequences

The same goes for mixed alphanumerics. If I want the sentence to be read:

the account is r f, 5 4 3, d c, 2

Input: the account is spell(rf543dc2).

Coda

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "coda",
   "text": "the account is spell(rf543dc2)."
}

Mist v3

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "mistv3",
   "text": "the account is spell(rf543dc2)."
}

spell() applied to typographical symbols

Symbol	Pronunciation
@	at
_	underscore
-	dash
.	dot

Spell also works with common symbols. For example:

the email address is h e l p, at, r i m e, dot, a i

Input: the email address is spell([e-mail]).

Coda

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "coda",
   "text": "the email address is spell([e-mail])."
}

Mist v3

{
   "speaker": "astra",
   "modelId": "mistv3",
   "text": "the email address is spell([e-mail])."
}