The value in the standard format Speech Markdown is always quoted. Either single or double quotes can be used:
(some text)[emphasis:"strong"] //OK
(some text)[emphasis:'strong'] //OK
Leaving an empty line between text content indicates paragraphs:
This sentence makes up the first paragraph.
And this sentence is the second.
It is up to the configuration of the formatter that determines if the paragraph SSML tag <p> is rendered.
<speak>
<p>This sentence makes up the first paragraph.</p>
<p>And this sentence is the second.</p>
</speak>
<speak>
This sentence makes up the first paragraph.
And this sentence is the second.
</speak>
Speech Markdown does not require that sentences be identified. Therefore, formatters will typically NOT render the sentence SSML tag <s>.
The order of modifiers in sections is not important. When rendered the formatter will always render the voice modifier before the lang modifier.
These are the same:
#[voice:"Joey";lang:"fr-FR";]
#[lang:"fr-FR";voice:"Joey"]
In Speech Markdown, the order of key:"value"; pairs is not important.
All the following are the same:
(Al)[sub:"aluminum";volume:"x-loud";rate:"slow";pitch:"low"]
(Al)[volume:"x-loud";sub:"aluminum";pitch:"low";rate:"slow";]
(Al)[volume:"x-loud";rate:"slow";pitch:"low";sub:"aluminum";]
Because multiple modifiers can be rendered as a single SSML tag, the formatter is responsible for grouping them together.
The above sample includes the sub modifier which would be rendered in SSML as nested tags. Regardless of the order of the modifiers, the <sub> tag will always be innermost. This is also the responsibility of the formatter.
The same goes for the ipa modifier as it renders to SSML as <phoneme alphabet="ipa"...>.
Semi-colons are only required when there are two or more modifiers. The trailing semi-colon is optional:
(Al)[sub:"aluminum"]
(Al)[sub:"aluminum;"]
(text)[volume:"x-loud";pitch:"low";rate:"slow"]
(text)[volume:"x-loud";pitch:"low";rate:"slow";]
If SSML is included in a Speech Markdown file, it is not processed. It should be in its own stand-alone paragraph.
This is the (first)[emphasis] paragraph with Speech Markdown.
Are you <emphasis level="strong">listening?</emphasis>
This is the (last)[volume:"x-loud"] paragraph. The previous paragraph had SSML.