Speakly

This is a lightweight tool I made while learning French. It can be used in many ways including while playing games with in-game chat, but of course works with any text.

Why does this tool exist

I found myself often going to Google Translate, ensuring the translation TO and FROM was selected right, putting the text in, reading the translation then clicking to hear how the translation was pronounced. This takes a few seconds to do, which is sometimes too long.

What this tool does

This program allows you to very quickly (and without cost) paste your clipboard text from any source (website, MMO game, word document etc) into the tool, have it read that text out loud and then read it's translation out loud. All this can be done within a split second by pressing Alt+Tab (or on Mac Command+Tab) twice, so only a blink away from your main screen.

How to set it up

No install required (github link coming soon as well). 

1. Open the program

2. Set your TO and FROM language as preferred

3. Select the 3 checkboxes (or less as you prefer)

4. If using within a game, recommend using full-screen windowed mode, to make alt-tab seemless

5. Highlight any text/chat message and copy it (eg Ctrl+C)

6. Press Alt+Tab (to change to Speakly) then Alt+Tab (back to your game/program). No need to wait. 

7. It will now translate and play what you had in your clipboard.

Note: This uses Google Translate and of course words like "salut" will nicely translate from French to English as "hi", but a shortened words like "slt" may not work.