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[yonder]

Fuck, sorry to hear that Best of luck, I'll be following the thread!

Man, GAF is depressing lately.

 

[Eric C]

What company did Ebert use?

Checked and looked and according to wiki it was

http://www.cereproc.com/

Q: I wish to record my own voice with a view to having CereProc build a voice from my recordings in future. How should I go about it?

A: For customers wishing to record an archive of their own voice, CereProc recommends installing Audacity to record speech. It's free, available for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux, and can be downloaded from here:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

For voice recording, a good quality microphone should be used, and the recordings should take place in a quiet environment, preferably a recording studio. A quiet room in a house should be okay, as long as there is no background noise, e.g. TV, radio, music, traffic noises, etc. Customers should record themselves reading online newspaper articles, one at a time.

Good quality new sources are best. For those in the UK, the BBC and the Guardian are good sources; for those in the US, it's better to use US sources, such as New York Times, Chicago Sun Times, Washington Post etc. The speaker should try to read a variety of topics, e.g. general news, politics, business, international news, a bit of sport, a bit of weather, etc, and some articles on topics of personal interest, e.g. cinema, as this will give better genre coverage. Articles should be recorded one at a time, and each wave file given a sensible name, e.g.

abc_nyt_20100309_001.wav (abc = speaker initals; nyt = New York Times, or change these to indicate where the article came from; 20100309 = today's date; 001 = article no.1)

In addtion, the text of the article should be saved into a text file and given a matching name. E.g. for abc_nyt_20100309_001.wav, the text read by the speaker should be saved into a file called abc_nyt_20100309_001.txt

The more articles recorded the better - customers should aim to get at least 40 mins of recordings to build an HTS voice, or 4 hours+ for a unit selection voice.

Most important of all, customers try to keep the recordings consistent, so that each recording session sounds identical (or as close to identical as possible) to the previous sessions. This means - always using the same room to make the recordings, making sure the speaker's position in the room is the same, always using the same microphone and ensuring the distance between the microphone and the speaker, and the speaker's sitting position are always the same.

The speaker should try to read at a measured pace, without speeding up or slow down. Big changes in pitch and volume should also be avoided. The speaker's tone should be neutral and the speaker should not put too much interpretation on what (s)he is reading - keep it like a newsreader. Disfluencies, such as "erm", "um", etc. should be kept to an absolute minimum. The fundamental point to remember is that when a CereProc voice synthesises a word or phrase, it can select units of speech from any of the recordings used to build the voice, so if there are big differences between each recording, this has a extremely negative impact on the quality of the voice.

Customers should save both the wav files and the txt files into a directory on their computer and build up the quantity of files over a period of time. The files should be periodically backed up. CereProc rarely records a speaker for sessions longer than three hours, including breaks, so CereProc recommends frequent, short recording sessions.

Personally if I was ever in that situation I'd also try recording all the sounds from the International Phonetic Alphabet too.

And also any common phrases or words I'm known to say. Probably record my emails and text chats too.

 

[Lionel Mandrake]

That blows, but on the upside, you practically live in a crazy-ass Jetsons-like age of new technologies and sciences. I'd say the odds are very good you'll be able to speak efficiently some day in the near future.

 

[User 100115]

Agreed. Recording messages to loved ones would be awesome. Or like.. something for them to play at your funeral long after they have forgotten your voice. It would be an instant tear inducer.

This is a brilliant idea. Stay positive man.

 

[Prez]

Welp you've scared the shit out of me. I've had this wart looking thing on my tongue for like a month or two and am getting it removed on friday and the doctor I saw said "its probably not cancer" but fuck now I'm scared as fuck at the possibility at losing my whole tongue.

I smoke a'lot also but I'm only 22 so I hope it's not the case

I'm not sure what to say. If it's not cancer you'll probably keep smoking, right?

 

[Ogni-XR21]

You seem to be holding up pretty well regarding the circumstances, I would probably be a mess right now... even thinking about your situation really gets me down, can't imagine what you must feel like.

Wish all the best for your doctors appointment on Monday!!!

 

[noobasuar]

I'm not sure what to say. If it's not cancer you'll probably keep smoking, right?

No, after hearing about this I'm gonna try to completly quit cigarettes and I've been cutting the amount I smoke for a while now so I think I'll be able to do it.

But weed.....idk I'll probably have to invest in a vaporizer.

 

[BlackGoku03]

Welp. Long story short I probably have tongue cancer. After numerous doctor visits and ruling out other diseases, I'm going to an oral cancer specialist Monday.

If the diagnosis is confirmed and they want to operate I will never be able to speak again. At this point it's still up in the air but its not looking good.

So GAF, my Internet buddies, how would you cope?

My idea is to record every word in the dictionary and get some Stephen Hawkins shit going on. I'm definitely going to have to learn ASL so any gaffers who are fluent and would like to Skype or Facetime let me know.

I know this thread is a downer but honestly, I'm not that depressed. Probably since I know it's my own fault for smoking for so long.


Edit: I'm at work but will be checking tread periodically.

How long did you smoke? Are they sure it was the cause?

 

[MilesWebber]

Again thanks for all the encouragement. I will answer questions on my lunch break in a couple of hours.

 

[Mr. Robot]

You seem to be taking this so well, i guess that on an important scale, my tongue would be on a low grade too, at least you could always carry a small whiteboard and marker.

Or rock one of these:

 

[Rootbeer]

I can't begin to fathom... what a sad, sad thing to happen to someone...
We need to fix this cancer bullshit.
Wishing you the best, OP
Have plenty of long conversations and make sure to record TONS of yourself talking... it will be invaluable

I'll be completely honest with you... if I had to have a devastating case of cancer that would result in the removal of an inegral body part... the tongue is not the worst. I pretty much avoid talking as much as I can already. Course, the loss of the ability to taste as well (if at all)... would be hard to adjust to

 

[ckohler]

While I am sincerely sorry for you Wiicast, to be honest, I'm also somewhat excited for you.

The idea of living without being able to speak sounds kinda fun. Think about it; it is likely to make everyday, mundane situations more interesting. Not that I wish any difficulty upon you but if I have to be honest, living without speaking does sound like an interesting way to live. I'm reminded of all those mute characters in movies who carry around small pad of paper to write down what they want to say. You'll be like the McGyver of communication. I always thought those guys were cool.

Sorry if I'm being juvenile and overly pragmatic. Take it what you will. I just figured I'd try to spin some positive out of it.

Also, recording your voice seems like a smart move.

 

[Arment]

Best of luck, I'd be a bit frightened at the prospect.

How much did you smoke and how long?

 

[captscience]

That's terrible news and I hope it doesn't come to surgery.

Have you read about Grant Achatz? He's the chef of arguably the best restaurant in the country who battled and overcame tongue cancer and losing his sense of taste. Cool story and I hope yours ends similarly well.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/05/12/080512fa_fact_max

 

[Snakeyes]

I'm sorry man. Stay strong.

 

[MilesWebber]

Answers:

I have been smoking for about 15-20 yrs. I smoke less than a pack a day.

Symptoms:
I dropped from 225lbs to 170lbs in the span of 3 months without diet or exercise.

I do not want to eat. I have no hunger. I have to force myself to eat. Prolonged time without eating makes my hunger even less. (Which is a key symptom)

Coughing phlegm.

Big white patch covering the back quarter of my tongue. Not painful or bleeding.

Always feel like something is stuck in my throat.

Lose teeth in back.


I don't FEEL sick. I don't have any flu like symptoms. No fatigue or pain. It's like I'm disappearing or being erased.

 

[criesofthepast]

Hoping everything works out for you.

 

[Rentahamster]

Take care dude. Let us know if you need any other support.

 

[Fusebox]

Sorry to hear that man. Definitely make as many recordings as possible now, and if I were you I'd also start learning an expressive instrument like the guitar, you'll feel good to be able to rip it up and let it out later on I reckon.

 

[Haly]

Why ASL? Isn't that primarily for the deaf? Seems like that would be a ton of work for limited return... limited to those who know ASL.

To communicate with most people, this wouldn't get you very far. You can hear, see, and have all your motor skills... there might be a better communication solution for your situation.

ASL is pretty cool though... not knocking it, just saying.

Expanding on this:

ASL is not very widely spread, and the places where it is used frequently tend to be Deaf enclaves. Like any language, it's difficult to pick up unless you spend a lot of time practicing and using it with other signers. Unless you plan to live somewhere close to or to join the Deaf community, I don't think ASL will be a necessity. The main advantage of ASL that I can think of, for someone who still wants to live in mainstream (hearing) society, is that you will be able to use an interpreter to "talk" in your stead. This is extremely useful for things like public speaking or for business meetings, where you need to be able to keep up a flow of thoughts and respond to questions. However there are also other ways around this, such as a laptop connected to a projector, or someone just reading off of your laptop.

 

[MilesWebber]

Sorry to hear that man. Definitely make as many recordings as possible now, and if I were you I'd also start learning an expressive instrument like the guitar, you'll feel good to be able to rip it up and let it out later on I reckon.

I have been learning the ukulele

 

[FStop7]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. Recording your voice sounds like a cool idea, hopefully it could be made workable and useful so you can maintain that part of your identity. Maybe it would be worth reaching out to Roger Ebert through his website or his agent to see he might have advice on how to adjust to such a dramatic change.

 

[Fusebox]

I have been learning the ukulele

Awesome stuff, I play guitar so if you ever want to do an online collaboration just let me know.

 

[teh_pwn]

The way technology is going, there will probably be robust devices to reproduce speech for mutes in 10-20 years. Sounds crazy, but if I were you I'd record my voice for several minutes as a reference point.

 

[Darth Pinche]

Dude that sucks! I wish you the best to beat this!

Instead of Hawking, go for the William Shatner voice app!

 

[Bomber Bob]

Fucking cancer

 

[someday]

I don't know exactly what to say, but I really wanted to make sure you knew you that I'm rooting for you. First and foremost I'm hoping that Monday's appointment goes well and you don't have to lose anything. But if the tests are positive, is it 100% certain that they have to remove your entire tongue? What are the prospects of a prosthetic?

I have a friend, a milf with 3 kids who is losing her vision. She's not 40 yet but knows that she won't be able to watch her two daughters walk down the aisle (her son is a bit older than them). I'd known her for years before learning that. Puts shit in my life in perspective.

Good luck OP. Gaf is here for you.

 

[DarkLegion]

Someday made a good post.

Hope it all turns out well, you can beat this.

 

[t-ramp]

Answers:

I have been smoking for about 15-20 yrs. I smoke less than a pack a day.

Symptoms:
I dropped from 225lbs to 170lbs in the span of 3 months without diet or exercise.

I do not want to eat. I have no hunger. I have to force myself to eat. Prolonged time without eating makes my hunger even less. (Which is a key symptom)

Coughing phlegm.

Big white patch covering the back quarter of my tongue. Not painful or bleeding.

Always feel like something is stuck in my throat.

Lose teeth in back.


I don't FEEL sick. I don't have any flu like symptoms. No fatigue or pain. It's like I'm disappearing or being erased.

Damn... So are these symptoms tongue-related? Or are you still going to have some issues with appetite and weight after surgery?

Be like Ebert, bro. Dude's a boss.

Yeah, definitely cool that he hasn't let his medical issues faze him too much.

 

[beast786]

What do you mean probably?

you need a biopsy to get a diagnosis. if the results confirm SCCA, then you perform other test to plan treatment , which could range from radiation to radical resection with flaps. What you are saying makes no sense.

 

[Wazzim]

You have the willpower of a boss, I hope you'll be fine.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

That is terrible op, I really wish you the best. It's definitely something very hard to take. Best wishes.

 

[MilesWebber]

What do you mean probably?

you need a biopsy to get a diagnosis. if the results confirm SCCA, then you perform other test to plan treatment , which could range from radiation to radical resection with flaps. What you are saying makes no sense.

True there might be radiation options. The location of the mass which will need to be removed is the entire back quarter of my tongue. Radiation may not be the best option versus surgical removal. It's still in the planning stages. So if the mass needs to be removed surgically then I PROBABLY won't be able to speak because my tongue will be gone.

Hopefully they can do radiation but I don't know if I would choose that over surgery. If the are able to remove all of it I would rather have that done then months of radiation and chemo.

 

[oneils]

Answers:

I have been smoking for about 15-20 yrs. I smoke less than a pack a day.

Symptoms:
I dropped from 225lbs to 170lbs in the span of 3 months without diet or exercise.

I do not want to eat. I have no hunger. I have to force myself to eat. Prolonged time without eating makes my hunger even less. (Which is a key symptom)

Coughing phlegm.

Big white patch covering the back quarter of my tongue. Not painful or bleeding.

Always feel like something is stuck in my throat.

Lose teeth in back.


I don't FEEL sick. I don't have any flu like symptoms. No fatigue or pain. It's like I'm disappearing or being erased.

Damn dude. That sucks. I guess there is some consolation that there is no pain. But holy shit that sucks. My best wishes to you.

 

[bud]

wiicast, this sucks, dude. fucking hell.

 

[beast786]

True there might be radiation options. The location of the mass which will need to be removed is the entire back quarter of my tongue. Radiation may not be the best option versus surgical removal. It's still in the planning stages. So if the mass needs to be removed surgically then I PROBABLY won't be able to speak because my tongue will be gone.

Hopefully they can do radiation but I don't know if I would choose that over surgery. If the are able to remove all of it I would rather have that done then months of radiation and chemo.

I am an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. i am assuming they already performmed biopsy and have a difinitive diagnosis.

I want you to read up on everything about your condition and treatment options. Not getting a better conservative option because of short term inconvenience is going to haunt you for the rest of your life. If surgery requires reconstruction of your tongue (generally tissue taken from leg or back) then you need to put all of those in front of you. more than likely you will still need radiation after surgery.

I wish you best of luck and I can't emphasize enough to do a lot of research on your own and completely understans the pros and cons and especially long term effect, as you sound very young and have your whole life in front of you.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Sorry to hear, OP.

 

[Loofy]

By any chance do you use listerine alot too?

 

[Deleted member 1235]

I know this thread is a downer but honestly, I'm not that depressed. Probably since I know it's my own fault for smoking for so long.

Seems like you're starting out with a pretty good attitude, congrats. If it happened to me I'd like to think I'd handle it like you described, by immediately learning how to sign. I'd start reading up on some forums with people in the same situation and see how they cope with day to day.

 

[fluffydelusions]

Sorry to hear. Stay strong...I hope the best for you!

 

[Altazor]

damn man, this is depressing. Hopefully you'll receive good news and you don't need to lose your tongue, so... I wish you the very best!

 

[SMT]

I'm very saddened to hear about this WiiCast, I wish you all the best and a swift recovery.

 

[MrTeachwell]

Wow, life sure can spring big surprises on us sometimes. I hope you have a good solid support in your life (family, friends, gaf, inner monologue) because that's what I found most reassuring during some recent times of crisis I've experienced.

Best of luck with your recording and learning of sign language, I think sometime in my career as a teacher (still studying) I'll end up learning at least a handful of useful phrases in AusLan (Australian sign language), I've actually been looking forward to that since I really enjoy language.

Also, kick that cancers butt!

 

[ScientificNinja]

FUUCK. Good luck, Wiicast.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Wow... it is possible to contract mouth cancer due to smoking...?

I thought smoking only cause the old-fashioned kind of cancer, heart/lung... wow that's scary.

Hopefully things will not be as grim as you imagine, OP, best of luck to you.

 

[malyce]

Sorry to hear dude

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Biff]

Answers:

I have been smoking for about 15-20 yrs. I smoke less than a pack a day.

Symptoms:
I dropped from 225lbs to 170lbs in the span of 3 months without diet or exercise.

I do not want to eat. I have no hunger. I have to force myself to eat. Prolonged time without eating makes my hunger even less. (Which is a key symptom)

Coughing phlegm.

Big white patch covering the back quarter of my tongue. Not painful or bleeding.

Always feel like something is stuck in my throat.

Lose teeth in back.


I don't FEEL sick. I don't have any flu like symptoms. No fatigue or pain. It's like I'm disappearing or being erased.

For some reason on that list the loose teeth in the back would freak me out the most.

Best of luck dude. You have a great attitude; I'm sure it will help a ton as you think through options.

 

[Hokhoku]

Everything will be fine and you will talk just fine later on
Dont worry!
Just start doing a healthier life

 

[geeko]

That really sucks man, I hope it's not cancer. FUCK cancer.

My old job at a grocery store there was this guy that came in occasionally that couldn't speak. He carried a notepad to communicate. It worked well enough to get by.

 

[speedline]

Geez man, really sorry to hear the news but you know survival is the main goal at this point. I would gladly lose my tongue to survive.

I've been smoking 15 years now and it has been a total nightmare trying to quit over the years, but after reading your ordeal I will give it my best shot again. Take care man...