---
name: "recite"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "recite"
version: "1.0-8.2"
release: "Debian 8 (Jessie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/recite"
---

# recite(1)

english text speech synthesizer

## NAME

recite - english text speech synthesizer

## SYNOPSIS

**recite** \[ *option*... \]\[ *infile* \[ *outfile* \]\]\
 **recite** **-Help**\
 **recite** **-VERSion**

## DESCRIPTION

The *recite* program is used to read english text and speak the words from the workstation's speaker.

By default, the standard input is read and the english text is spoken from the speaker. If a file name is given on the command line, the text is taken from the file rather than the standard input. If a second file is named, a *ulaw* encoded file is written to the named file, rather then emitting it from the speaker. This file will be compatible with Sun's [*audiotool*(1)](/audiotool/1.md).

## OPTIONS

The following options are understood:

- **-Write\_Phonemes**

  The option may be used to cause the translation process to cease after the text has been translated into phonemes. The phonemes will be emitted on the standard output, or to the appropriate file if an output file has been specified.

- **-Help**

  Provide some help with using the *recite* program.

- **-VERSion**

  Print the version of the *recite* program being executed.

All other options will produce a diagnostic error. Options may be abbreviated, the minimum abbreviation is shown in upper-case. Options are case insensitive. Options and file names may be mixed arbitrarily on the command line.\

## EXIT STATUS

The *recite* program will exit with a status of 1 on any error. The *recite* program will only exit with a status of 0 if there are no errors.\

## COPYRIGHT

The *recite* program is\
 Copyright (C) 1993 Peter Miller.\
 All rights reserved.

The *recite* program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details use the '*recite -VERSion Warranty*' command. This is free software and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions; for details use the '*recite -VERSion Redistribution*' command.\

## AUTHOR

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Peter Miller | UUCP | uunet!munnari!bmr.gov.au!pmiller |
| /\\/\\\* | Internet | pmiller@bmr.gov.au |