23. A text-to-speech processor comprising: an input buffer for storing characters; a text-to-speech interface for receiving a text stream and speech commands, whereby characters in the text stream may be converted into speech whose characteristics are controlled by the speech commands; a parser including a pointer that points to characters in said input buffer, said parser for parsing characters at the pointer's position to detect unspoken characters and spoken characters, said parser sending spoken characters to said text-to-speech interface without altering the spoken characters; a text generator for generating pre-designated text sequences in response to detection of unspoken characters having a first characteristic, for replacing, in the text stream, said unspoken characters having said first characteristic with said pre-designated text sequences, and for sending the generated text sequences to said text-to-speech interface; means for updating the position of said pointer; and a speech command generator for generating speech commands in response to detection of unspoken characters having a second characteristic, and for sending the generated speech commands to said text-to-speech interface.
23. A text-to-speech processor comprising: an input buffer for storing characters; a text-to-speech interface for receiving a text stream and speech commands, whereby characters in the text stream may be converted into speech whose characteristics are controlled by the speech commands; a parser including a pointer that points to characters in said input buffer, said parser for parsing characters at the pointer's position to detect unspoken characters and spoken characters, said parser sending spoken characters to said text-to-speech interface without altering the spoken characters; a text generator for generating pre-designated text sequences in response to detection of unspoken characters having a first characteristic, for replacing, in the text stream, said unspoken characters having said first characteristic with said pre-designated text sequences, and for sending the generated text sequences to said text-to-speech interface; means for updating the position of said pointer; and a speech command generator for generating speech commands in response to detection of unspoken characters having a second characteristic, and for sending the generated speech commands to said text-to-speech interface. 32. A text-to-speech processor according to claim 23, further comprising a look-up table, wherein said second characteristic is determined by reference to said look-up table.