Getting Siri to pronounce a fancy or foreign-sounding title is usually a problem. Why? Because Siri’s technique of figuring out methods to pronounce correct names will depend on your gadget’s system language. In the U.S. and different English-speaking areas, Siri’s pronunciation is ruled by English phonetic guidelines. When Siri is confronted with a reputation, say of Italian origin like Vito Corleone or of Chinese origin like Xiaoyan Zhou, it should doubtless want assist in getting the spoken pronunciation precisely proper.
I lately discovered that there’s a method to get Siri to exactly pronounce each syllable in each title in your contacts listing—however you need to kind the directions reasonably than inform Siri methods to do it.
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The schooling of Siri begins within the Contacts app on both the iPhone or iPad. To appropriate an errant Siri pronunciation, select the title in query. On that pane, faucet the Edit button on the higher proper nook of the display screen. That opens a brand new pane the place you then faucet the Add Field line. There you will see Pronunciation and Phonetic assist for first, center, and final names. To faculty Siri, select the Phonetic title you want to appropriate (or all three names, if Siri is critically mangling a moniker). You may even inform Siri it has pronounced a reputation flawed, and it’ll lead you to the pronunciation web page.
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To check my Vito Corleone instance, I selected the Phonetic final title and used the sphere to kind the pronunciation as carefully as I might after which tapped Done. It took a number of tries, however I lastly obtained Siri to pronounce The Godfather’s title appropriately, versus saying “Cor-leon” (three syllables as an alternative of 4) or “Corleon-a” (4 syllables however the flawed vowel on the finish).
Don’t be afraid to enter a number of variations till Siri will get it proper. Test the outcome by asking Siri for details about that individual, so Siri is pressured to repeat the title. You may even inform Siri it’s pronounced a reputation flawed, and it’ll immediate you so as to add a phonetic description in Contacts.
What’s the distinction between phonetic and pronunciation hints? Not a lot when it comes to operation. Choosing Phonetic is most popular as a result of it robotically locations the title within the appropriate alphabetical itemizing type order.
Today I Learned is a Macworld column that spotlights lesser-known however helpful ideas and tips for Apple customers. If you could have any concepts for future columns, ship an e mail to michael_simon@idg.com.
