10 most beautiful-sounding characteristic phrases in Estonian language
The following 10 Estonian phrases will be synthesized with the speech synthesizers of other EU countries:
|
Estonian phrases |
Translation into English |
In International Phonetic Alphabet |
| Ämber läks ümber. | A pail turned over. | O̰mʋber lO̰kʋs ymʋber. |
| Kuula, kulla külanaine - kuuled külla tulnud vaime. | Listen, dear countrywoman – you can hear the ghosts visiting you. | kuuʋlA, kullA kylAnAine - kuuled kylʋlA tulnud vAiʋme. |
| Pöidlad pihku pöialpoisid! | Keep fingers crossed, dwarfs! | pOiʋdlAd pihʋku pOijAlpoisJid! |
| Millal maksan memme vaeva. | When can I pay for mamma’s pains/trouble. | millAl mAksAn memme vAevA. |
| Küll küllale liiga ei tee. | Enough is never enough. | kylʋl kyllAle liiʋgA eiʋ teeʋ. |
| Mahlakas jõhvikas maitses soisel kaldal hää. | A juicy cranberry tasted good on a swampy shore. | mAhlAkAs jɛhvikAs mAitʋses soiʋsel kAlʋdAl hO̰O̰ʋ. |
| Üle oja mäele, läbi oru jõele. | Over the brook to the hill, through the valley to the river. | yle ojA mO̰eʋle, lO̰bi oru jɛeʋle. |
| Kalli ema hella soojust jagub üle mitme põlve. | The tender warmth of a dearest mother is enough for several generations. | kAlJʋli emA helʋlA sooʋjust jAgub yle mitʋme pɛlve. |
| Ema tuli koju. | Mother came home. | emA tulJi koju. |
| Tilluke talleke tatsas tasasel pinnal. | A little lamb toddled on a smooth surface. | tilluke tAlleke tAtʋsAs tAsAsel pinnAl. |
The results of the speech synthesis should be sent in .mp3, .wav or .au format audio files by June 16 to keeletalgud(at)hm.ee.
Our aim is not to compare the possibilities of the speech synthesisers’ adapted for different languages. We would like to give to the Estonians an opportunity to understand, what makes their mother tongue so special. Therefore, it is necessary that the phrases would be pronounced by a speech synthesiser constructed for a different language. From our side we offer an opportunity to synthesise some phrases in a foreign language with an Estonian speech synthesiser.
