---
title: SpeechBusySystemWide()
framework: applicationservices
role: symbol
role_heading: Function
path: applicationservices/1460113-speechbusysystemwide
---

# SpeechBusySystemWide()

Determines if any speech is currently being synthesizedin your application or elsewhere on the computer.

## Declaration

```swift
func SpeechBusySystemWide() -> Int16
```

## Return Value

Return Value The total number ofspeech channels currently synthesizing speech on the computer, whetherthey were initiated by your application or process’s code or bysome other process executing concurrently. Paused speech channelsare counted among those channels that are synthesizing speech.

## Discussion

Discussion This function is useful when you want to ensure that no speechis currently being produced anywhere on the Macintosh computer beforeinitiating speech. Although the Speech Synthesis Manager allowsdifferent applications to produce speech simultaneously, this canbe confusing to the user. As a result, it is often a good idea foryour application to check that no other process is producing speechbefore producing speech itself. If the difference between the valuesreturned by SpeechBusySystemWide andthe SpeechBusy functionis 0, no other process is producing speech.

## See Also

### Obtaining Information About Speech and Speech Channels

- [CopySpeechProperty(_:_:_:)](applicationservices/1459075-copyspeechproperty.md)
- [GetSpeechPitch(_:_:)](applicationservices/1464774-getspeechpitch.md)
- [GetSpeechRate(_:_:)](applicationservices/1460797-getspeechrate.md)
- [SpeechBusy()](applicationservices/1464581-speechbusy.md)
- [SpeechManagerVersion()](applicationservices/1462334-speechmanagerversion.md)