# Homographs

Homographs are two or more words that have the same spelling but are pronounced differently. These are often different in terms of which syllable is accented. For example, if permit is a noun, the accent is on the first syllable (permit); if, however, the word is used as a verb, then the accent is on the second syllable (permit). This often makes a great deal of difference in understanding DECtalk when it is speaking such words in connected discourse.

The default is the more frequent form. In the event the alternate pronunciation is needed, you can insert the correct phonetics from one of the following homograph indices:

Homograph Phonetics - (A)

Homograph Phonetics - (B-C)

Homograph Phonetics - (D-G)

Homograph Phonetics - (I-L)

Homograph Phonetics - (M-P)

Homograph Phonetics - (R)

Homograph Phonetics - (S-W)

Use a [:pronounce alternate] command to obtain an alternative pronunciation for a word. For example, the primary pronunciation of the word bass is b'eys, as in bass guitar, while the alternate pronunciation, denoted by [:pronounce alternate], is b'aes, as in the fish, bass.