Why do we need Scottish and Gaelic computer voices?
We believe there is a strong cultural and educational imperative for pupils, students and people with disabilities in Scotland to be able to:
- Read and listen to Scottish and Gaelic educational and information resources spoken using Scottish and Gaelic synthetic voices.
- Speak, using a voice output communication aid with a Scottish voice.
The Scottish Government funds CALL Scotland to provide Scotland-wide schools licences to Heather and Stuart (adult Scottish); Ceitidh (adult Scottish Gaelic); Andrew and Mairi, our new Scottish child voices and Isla and Callum (teenage voices). All the voices are created by CereProc, a world leading text-to-speech company in Edinburgh. The voices are licenced for schools, colleges, universities and NHS patients. Our licence currently covers Windows and Mac computers and devices.
The Scottish voices are particularly important now that there is a legislative duty on the provision of communication equipment in Scotland that gives children and adults in Scotland "the right to the communication equipment and the support they need to use their communication equipment".
What do I need to use them?
- To use the voices on this website you need a computer or tablet running Windows or Mac OSX and a 'text-to-speech' program (text reader) for reading text.
- Or AAC / Communication Software if you want to use the voices in your communication aid.
The voices work with text-to-speech software or apps - find out where to get a text-to-speech on the Text Reader page; find out how to use the voices for communication on the Communication Aid page.
If you have an Android, Chromebook or iPad device, you can get the voices for some reading and communication apps: refer to the Text Reader and Communication Aid pages.
Are they free?
- Do you have a valid Scottish school, public sector, College or University email address?
- Or, do you require the voice for home use for a school pupil?
If the answer is yes or you meet the criteria in the list below then you can download the Windows and Mac voices for free!
If you don't, you can purchase Windows and MacOS voices from the CALL Scotland shop. You can also buy Windows and Mac versions of all CereProc's other voices from their online Store. Glaswegians might be interested in Dodo, for example... just the voice you need on your communication device when ordering a pint in a pub on Sauchiehall Street?
Android users can get the free Android CerePlay app from the Google Play Store and buy voices for £1.19 each. The voices work with most Android text-to-speech and communication apps.
On iPad, you download the free iOS CerePlay app and buy voices for 99p each. The voices can then be used by the built-in iOS accessibility tools and most AAC apps. Some CereProc voices are also available directly through the Grid for iPad AAC app. Refer to the Text Reader and Communication Aid pages to find out which can speak Scottish.
The Windows and Mac voices are licensed for non-commercial, non-profit personal, educational and research purposes.
The voices are licensed for:
- State-run schools,
- Pupils at home,
- Scottish Colleges,
- Scottish Universities,
- Scottish Open University students,
- Scottish charities dealing with pupils and NHS patients,
- Scottish Local Authorities,
- NHS Scotland,
- Scottish government agencies.
The voices are not licensed for:
- Independent schools,
- Private companies,
- Scottish students studying abroad,
- and individuals not covered by the above.
Windows/MacOS voices can be purchased via CALL Scotland.
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