word-pronunciation.el

(defun MyTool-speech-word()
  "Speak words."
  (interactive)
  (let* ((str (url-hexify-string (string-word-or-region))))
    (process-kill-without-query
     (start-process-shell-command "speech" nil 
				  "/usr/bin/say -r 150" (concat "\"" str "\"" )))))

(defun string-word-or-region ()
  "If a region is selected, the text string of the region is returned.
  Otherwise, the text string of the word is returnd."
  (let ((editable (not buffer-read-only))
        (pt (save-excursion (mouse-set-point last-nonmenu-event)))
        beg end)
    (if (and mark-active
             (<= (region-beginning) pt) (<= pt (region-end)) )
        (setq beg (region-beginning)
              end (region-end))
      (save-excursion
        (goto-char pt)
        (backward-char 1)
        (setq end (progn (forward-word) (point)))
        (setq beg (progn (backward-word) (point)))))
    (buffer-substring-no-properties beg end)))

(define-key global-map (kbd "C-c s") 'MyTool-speech-word)