Mac OS X: Text to Speech voices can be previewed in English only

Issue or symptom

You cannot preview Mac OS X's speech voices except when using the English language version of Mac OS X. In non-English language versions, the Play button is dimmed ("grayed out").

Note: Voices can speak text in any language version of Mac OS X (the words are pronounced in English regardless of the Mac OS X language version).

Solution

As a workaround, speak some text with the voice to hear what it sounds like.

Published Date: Feb 20, 2012