A method of transforming a voice application program designed for US
English speakers to a voice application program for UK English speakers
using a computer system is described. In one embodiment, scripts and
grammars associated with the voice application program are converted from
US-to-UK English. The process includes spelling normalization, lexical
normalization, and pronunciation conversion (including where appropriate
accounting for stress shifts). The result is necessary word pronunciations
for speech recognition of UK English speaker (especially for proper nouns)
as well as a script that has been conformed to use UK English spelling and
lexical conventions. Additionally, the script can be annotated with
pronunciations as a part of the process. Further, in one embodiment a web
based interface to the conversion process is provided either standalone or
as part of a voice application development environment.
