IDEA: Script or software that scans lines of text and reports no. of syllables

[Dochappy]

I've tried several services online that will determine the number of syllables within each line of text but most are not very accurate and I have to be online to use them.

What I'm thinking  is have the program load a .txt file of your choice(or copy and paste the text) then the program would determine  syllables in each line. In each line the syllables within each word will be shown  using  "|" and at the end of each line the number of syllables will be like this (5)

In a perfect world if it could mark stressed and unstressed syllables  by underlining or bolding the stressed syllable putting the unstressed one in italics. but I don't think that's possible. Heck maybe the whole thing  is a bigger feat that I'm thinking.

I've been wanting something like this for a while so that after i write my poetry  it quickly  denotes the syllables so next time I look at it I won't have to scan the poem myself.

[Renegade]

That's the kind of thing that a commercial dictionary software author might do.

Without a solid dictionary, it's impossible.

With a solid dictionary, it's problematic. e.g. How do you pronounce:

• URL
• SQL
• etc.

There are some words that have a different number of syllables in different English accents as well, though I can't recall any at the moment.

Stress is another thing... And even more problematic as it differs more in different accents.

Accuracy would be very difficult, and the amount of research that it takes to get a high level of accuracy is prohibitive for any small software guys. You need specialized skills, linguistics, to approach the topic.

Now, there may be some grammar/spell checkers that could speed things up, but unless they also include pronunciation keys... Then if you did have pronunciation keys, you still need them for different accents.

e.g.

"water" -- In North American English the medial "T" is glottalized, making it sound like a "D", while in other accents, it's not, and is pronounced as a "T".

"schedule" in North American English begins as "sk", while in others begins as a harder "sh".

I'm drawing a blank on words with different numbers of syllables at the moment...

Ah... "poem". Po-em or pome?

There are others.

If you have a dictionary available, and it includes pronunciation keys, then the job becomes easier -- though the accuracy could be suspect in some places.

Here's some info:

http://www.phonicsontheweb.com/syllables.php

It's a good general guide, but English really is a bastard language, made up of a bunch of others, and consequently it has a lot of "exceptions". (Not really though as it's just a matter of mis-applying the proper rule, e.g. "to boldly go" is correct English grammar, but incorrect Latin.)

[Dochappy]

Thank you. I understand now. I figured it would be hard but didn't  know it would  so much. lol.  Appreciate the link bookmarking it now. 

[MilesAhead]

This may be of interest:

http://www.sttmedia.com/realsyllablecounter

[Dochappy]

Thank you! think this will do nicely gonna test it out a bit but from the looks of it might work lol

[skwire]

Nice find, MilesAhead.

[cranioscopical]

Ever helpful, MilesAhead!

[skwire]

Dochappy, let us know how this app worked out for you when you're done testing it.

[MilesAhead]

[Dochappy]

Been quite busy as soon as I get a chance I'll test it out and post my opinions. thanks again for the link.

[Dochappy]

Source
He jests at scars that never felt a wound.
1   2   3    4    5    6-7   8   9   10

and here is the  output I get from WordCreator

He jests at s|cars |that ne|ver felt a wound

and another example from same page linked in the first example

Now is the winter of our discontent
1   2  3   4-5   6   7    8-9-10

and WordCreator's Output

Now is |the win|ter of our dis|con|tent

so far from my testing it's hit or miss but it's also the best option I have tried. Maybe I have some settings wrong within the program making the output off.