1.5
Table Of Contents
- Introduction
- Installation and Making a Voice Profile
- Interface
- Modes and the Microphone
- Dictation Mode
- Spelling Mode
- Punctuation
- Commands
- Windows
- Menus
- Tips on Speaking
- The Cache and the Golden Rule
- Sound Input Troubleshooting
- What’s Installed Where
146Tips on SpeakingMacSpeech Dictate 1.5
sPeaK CLearLy.Don’tmumble.Imagineyou’respeakingoveraradioconnec-
tionfromtheInternationalSpaceStation,thatthesignalisundependableand
static-prone,andthatyou’recalmlyexplainingtoadisbelievinggroundcrew
atHoustonthatalargegreenalienmonsteristryingtobreakin.Clarityiskey.
sPeaK naturaLLy.Speakclearly,butspeakcalmlyandnaturally.Don’tover-
emphasizeanysounds.Don’tover-emphasizethedivisionsbetweenwords.
Don’tpronounce“fatcat”as“ffatt-uh,catt-uh;”runwordsandsoundstogeth-
erinalinguisticallynaturalway.Don’tpronounce“the”as“thee,”or“a”as
“aye,”unlessthat’showyouactuallyspeak.MacSpeechDictateneedstohear
soundsandwordsintheirnaturallinguisticcontext.Speakinutterances,but
makeeachutterancenaturalandsmooth.
diCtate, don’t taLK.Talkinganddictatingaredifferent.Conversationisa
bitlikemind-reading;weguessatwhatourinterlocutormeans.MacSpeech
Dictatecan’treadyourmind;ittriestotranscribefaithfullywhatyouactu-
allysay.Makeupyourmindwhatyouwanttosay,thensayit.Don’tstumble.
Don’taddanyextranoisesorinterjections,like“Youknow.”Pausebetween
utterances,buttrynottohesitateinthemiddleof anutterance.
reLax.Tensioninyourvoiceandmouthcancausesoundstoemergeinan
articial,strainedway.Posturemightmatter.Itcanevenbehelpfultohaveon
handaglassof water,orwarmtea,andtotakefrequentsips.Breathegently
sothatyourbreathisnotheardasanutterance.Turnthemicrophoneoff and
shakeoutyourtensionfromtimetotime.