12 December 2023
On 26 October Blind SA launched an isiZulu TTS SAPI voice for Windows that will work with any Windows screen reader. It is a high quality voice that was developed for Blind SA by Philip Bennefall from Sweden in collaboration with staff from the Linguistics Department at Wits University. The Voice is called MBali which is an isiZulu name meaning "flower". The voice is provided free of charge to blind persons. If you would like to receive a copy of the voice, send your request to:
support.tts@blindsa.org.za
Blind SA decided to have TTS developed for our local languages and to start with three voices. IsiZulu has now been completed and work has commenced on Setswana which is being developed by Mark Reddy from the USA also in collaboration with the same people at Wits. It is expected to be completed by around April 2024. Blind SA is now looking at funding options to begin development of an Afrikaans voice.