A procedural approach to synthesis by rule

A synthesis by rule system has been implemented using a computational mechanism termed the augmented finite state machine. This mechanism is a restricted form of the augmented transition network used in natural language processing. In this technique, the rules take the form of conditionally executed procedures which describe contextual effects. In a single linear pass the technique converts a phonetic string into synthesizer commands handling contact as well as distant assimilations. The technique may be expanded to handle general phonological rules at the expense of providing for recursive entry into an augmented finite state machine.