---
title: "The Parrot"
id: 14353
type: "product"
slug: "the-parrot"
url: "http://localhost/product/the-parrot/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/product/the-parrot.md"
published_at: "2019-11-30T01:21:40+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-22T19:21:05+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PARROT-ad-Sync_Volume_3_Number_3_0048-jpg-JPEG-Image-1223-×-1634-pixels-1.png"
excerpt: "The Parrot used the General Instruments SP0256 speech synthesizer chip, which used 64 allophones to generate speech. Supplied with software on cassette enabling you to select, string together, and pronounce the sounds."
category:
  - name: "Sound/Speech"
    slug: "sound-speech"
    taxonomy: "category"
    url: "http://localhost/category/hardware/sound-speech/"
post_tag:
  - name: "Research in Speech Technology (R.I.S.T.) Inc."
    slug: "research-in-speech-technology-r-i-s-t-inc"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/research-in-speech-technology-r-i-s-t-inc/"
  - name: "TS 1000"
    slug: "ts1000"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1000/"
  - name: "ZX80"
    slug: "zx80"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx80/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX80"
    slug: "zx80"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zx80/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1000"
    slug: "ts-1000"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1000/"
genre:
  - name: "Hardware"
    slug: "hardware"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/hardware/"
  - name: "Speech Synthesis"
    slug: "speech-synthesis"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/speech-synthesis/"
company:
  id: 11224
  title: "Research in Speech Technology (R.I.S.T.) Inc."
  type: "company"
  url: "http://localhost/company/research-in-speech-technology-r-i-s-t-inc/"
price: 89.95
date: 1983
rarity: "Uncommon"
product_reviews:
  - id: 62238
    title: "Products in Review"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/products-in-review-2/"
articles:
  - article:
      id: 24413
      title: "Using Your Computer: Programs"
      type: "article"
      url: "http://localhost/article/using-your-computer-programs/"
adverts:
  - publication:
      - id: 26460
        title: "SYNC v4 n2"
        type: "issue"
        url: "http://localhost/issue/sync-v4-n2/"
    advert_page: "93"
image_gallery:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PARROT-ad-Sync_Volume_3_Number_3_0048-jpg-JPEG-Image-1223-×-1634-pixels.png"
companies_products:
  - id: 11224
    title: "Research in Speech Technology (R.I.S.T.) Inc."
    type: "company"
    url: "http://localhost/company/research-in-speech-technology-r-i-s-t-inc/"
---

# The Parrot

The Parrot used the [General Instruments SP0256 speech synthesizer chip](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Instrument_SP0256), which used 64 allophones to generate speech. Supplied with software on cassette enabling you to select, string together, and pronounce the sounds.