13. The computer system of claim 8 wherein the mean pitch value depends on a user selection identified with a category of persons.
8. A computer system having improved speech-synthesis capabilities, programmed to synthesize electronic waveforms representative of the sound of a series of words stored as electronic data, wherein the computer system comprises a digital computer, a database accessible to the computer, an output buffer, and stored speech-synthesis software instructions structured to direct the computer to automatically: (a) for each of the stored words, retrieve from the database indicia of the patterns of syllables and their associated syllable prominences defining the word; (b) for each syllable for which indicia is retrieved in part (a), retrieve from the database indicia of a pattern of posture spectra beats and changing spectra beats, and their associated beat prominences, defining the syllable, wherein (i) posture spectra beats refers to time segments in which a waveform is stable and (ii) changing spectra beats refers to time segments during which the frequency spectra are changing between consecutive posture spectra beats; (c) for at least some of the pairs of indicia referring to adjacent syllables, adjust the indicia of the pattern of posture spectra beats and changing spectra beats retrieved in part (b); (d) calculate indicia of an electronic waveform suitable for playing on a speaker device and comprising an audible representation of the series of stored words, by adjusting a mean pitch value according to the sequence of indicia of the pattern of posture spectra beats and changing spectra beats retrieved in part (b), as adjusted by part (c); and (e) place the indicia of the calculated electronic waveform in the output buffer.