[January 04, 2001] The W3C Speech Grammar Markup Language Specification describes markup for grammars for use in speech recognition, and forms part of the proposals for the W3C Speech Interface Framework.

The 2000-01-03 specification "defines the syntax for grammar representation. The grammars are intended for use by speech recognizers and other grammar processors so that developers can specify the words and patterns of words to be listened for by a speech recognizer. The syntax of the grammar format is presented in two forms, an Augmented BNF (ABNF) syntax and an XML syntax. The specification ensures that the two representations are directly mappable to allow automatic transformations between the two forms. (1) Augmented BNF syntax (ABNF): this is a plain-text (non-XML) representation which is similar to traditional BNF grammar and to many existing BNF-like representations commonly used in the field of speech recognition including the JSpeech Grammar Format from which this specification is derived. Augmented BNF should not be confused with Extended BNF which is used in DTDs for XML and SGML. () XML: This syntax uses XML elements to represent the grammar constructs and adapts designs from the PipeBeach grammar, TalkML and a research XML variant of the JSpeech Grammar Format."

References:

• [January 03, 2001] The Speech Recognition Grammar Specification describes markup for grammars for use in speech recognition. Reference: W3C Working Draft 3-January-2001, edited by Andrew Hunt (SpeechWorks International) and Scott McGlashan (PipeBeach). The specification "defines syntax for representating grammars for use in speech recognition so that developers can specify the words and patterns of words to be listened for by a speech recognizer. The syntax of the grammar format is presented in two forms, an augmented BNF syntax and an XML syntax. The specification intends to make the two representations directly mappable and allow automatic transformations between the two forms." This W3C specification is based upon the JSpeech Grammar Format (JSGF) specification, which is owned by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Framework: The W3C Voice Browser Working Group issued two 'last call' working draft documents for the W3C Speech Interface Framework. These specifications are part of the W3C Voice Browser Activity, in which W3C "is working to expand access to the Web to allow people to interact with Web sites via spoken commands, and listening to prerecorded speech, music and synthetic speech. This will allow any telephone to be used to access Web-based services, and will be a boon to people with visual impairments or needing Web access while keeping theirs hands and eyes free for other things. It will also allow effective interaction with display-based Web content in the cases where the mouse and keyboard may be missing or inconvenient. The review period for both WDs ends 31-January-2001. Review comments on the WDs may be sent to the publicly archived mailing list 'www-voice@w3.org'.

• DTD for the XML Format, and XSLT stylesheet. 2000-01-03.

• [July 11, 2000]   W3C Speech Recognition Grammar Specification.    The first public working draft version of a 'Speech Recognition Grammar Specification' has been issued by the W3C Voice Browser Working Group as part of the W3C Voice Browser Activity, viz.: Speech Recognition Grammar Specification for the W3C Speech Interface Framework. Reference: W3C Working Draft 10-July-2000, edited by Andrew Hunt (SpeechWorks International) and Scott McGlashan (PipeBeach). Abstract: "This document defines syntax for representating grammars for use in speech recognition so that developers can specify the words and patterns of words to be listened for by a speech recognizer. The syntax of the grammar format is presented in two forms, an augmented BNF syntax and an XML syntax. The specification intends to make the two representations directly mappable and allow automatic transformations between the two forms. The W3C Voice Browser Working Group is seeking input on whether the final specification should include both forms or be narrowed to a specific form." Description: "This document defines the syntax for grammar representation. The grammars are intended for use in speech recognition so that developers can specify the words and patterns of words to be listened for by a speech recognizer. The syntax of the grammar format is presented in two forms, an augmented BNF syntax and an XML syntax. The specification intends to make the two representations directly mappable and allow automatic transformations between the two forms. The W3C Voice Browser Working Group is seeking input on whether the final specification should include both forms or be narrowed to a specific form. Augmented BNF syntax (ABNF): this is a plain-text (non-XML) representation which is similar to traditional BNF grammar and to many existing BNF-like representations commonly used in the field of speech recognition including the JSpeech Grammar Format from which this specification is derived. Augmented BNF should not be confused with Extended BNF which is used in DTDs for XML and SGML. XML: This syntax uses XML elements to represent the grammar constructs and adapts designs from the PipeBeach grammar (W3C Members only), TalkML and a research XML variant of the JSpeech Grammar Format. Section 5 outlines area of Future Study around Grammar representations for speech recognition. In addition to the decision about supporting an XML form, the ABNF form or both, the committee is currently considering a proposal for representing statistical language models -- specifically "n-grams" -- that are used in many speech recognition systems. The W3C Standard is known as the Speech Recognition Grammar Specification and is based upon the JSGF specification, which is owned by Sun Microsystems." See related references in "Java Speech Markup Language (JSML/JSpeech)."