diff --git a/config/settings/espeak.settings.conf b/config/settings/espeak.settings.conf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e11f0a35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/settings/espeak.settings.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+[sound]
+# Turn sound on or off:
+enabled=True
+
+# Select the driver used to play sounds, choices are generic and gstreamer.
+# Sox is the default.
+driver=generic
+
+# Sound themes. This is the pack of sounds used for sound alerts.
+# Sound packs may be located at /usr/share/sounds
+# For system wide availability, or ~/.local/share/fenrir/sounds
+# For the current user.
+theme=default
+
+# Sound volume controls how loud the sounds for your chosen soundpack are.
+# 0 is quietest, 1.0 is loudest.
+volume=1.0
+
+# shell commands for generic sound driver
+# the folowing variable are substituded
+# fenrirVolume = the current volume setting
+# fenrirSoundFile = the soundfile for an soundicon
+# fenrirFrequence = the frequence to play
+# fenrirDuration = the duration of the frequence
+# the following command is used for play a soundfile
+genericPlayFileCommand=play -q -v fenrirVolume fenrirSoundFile 2>/dev/null
+#the following command is used for generating a frequence beep
+genericFrequencyCommand=play -q -v fenrirVolume -n -c1 synth fenrirDuration sine fenrirFrequence 2>/dev/null
+
+[speech]
+# Turn speech on or off:
+enabled=True
+
+# Select speech driver, options are speechd (default) or espeak:
+#driver=speechd
+driver=espeak
+
+
+# The rate selects how fast fenrir will speak. Options range from 0, slowest, to 1.0, fastest.
+rate=0.35
+
+# Pitch controls the pitch of the voice, select from 0, lowest, to 1.0, highest.
+pitch=0.5
+# Pitch for capital letters
+capitalPitch=0.9
+
+# Volume controls the loudness of the voice, select from 0, quietest, to 1.0, loudest.
+volume=1.0
+
+# Module is used for speech-dispatcher, to select the speech module you want to use.
+# Consult speech-dispatcher's configuration and help ti find out which modules are available.
+# The default is espeak.
+module=espeak
+
+# Voice selects the varient you want to use, for example, f5 will use the female voice #5 in espeak,
+# or if using the espeak module in speech-dispatcher. To find out which voices are available, consult the documentation provided with your chosen synthesizer.
+voice=f3
+
+# Select the language you want fenrir to use.
+language=en_US
+
+# Read new text as it happens?
+autoReadIncoming=True
+
+[braille]
+#braille is not implemented yet
+enabled=False
+driver=brlapi
+layout=en
+
+[screen]
+driver=linux
+encoding=UTF-8
+screenUpdateDelay=0.4
+suspendingScreen=
+autodetectSuspendingScreen=True
+
+[keyboard]
+driver=evdev
+# filter input devices NOMICE, ALL or a DEVICE NAME
+device=ALL
+# gives fenrir exclusive access to the keyboard and let consume keystrokes.
+grabDevices=True
+ignoreShortcuts=False
+# the current shortcut layout located in /etc/fenrir/keyboard
+keyboardLayout=desktop
+# echo chars while typing.
+charEcho=True
+## echo deleted chars
+charDeleteEcho=True
+# echo word after pressing space
+wordEcho=True
+# interrupt speech on any keypress
+interruptOnKeyPress=True
+# timeout for double tap in sec
+doubleTapTimeout=0.2
+
+[general]
+debugLevel=0
+punctuationProfile=default
+punctuationLevel=some
+respectPunctuationPause=True
+newLinePause=True
+numberOfClipboards=10
+emoticons=True
+# define the current fenrir key
+fenrirKeys=KEY_KP0,KEY_META
+scriptKey=KEY_COMPOSE
+timeFormat=%H:%M:%P
+dateFormat=%A, %B %d, %Y
+autoSpellCheck=True
+spellCheckLanguage=en_US
+scriptPath=/usr/share/fenrir/scripts
+
+[focus]
+cursor=True
+highlight=False
+
+[promote]
+enabled=True
+inactiveTimeoutSec=120
+list=
+
+
diff --git a/src/fenrir/core/settings.py b/src/fenrir/core/settings.py
index f4c6780a..6d092ad5 100644
--- a/src/fenrir/core/settings.py
+++ b/src/fenrir/core/settings.py
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ settings = {
     'capitalPitch':0.8,
     'volume': 1.0,    
     'module': 'espeak',
-    'voice': 'en',
-    'language': 'en',
+    'voice': '',
+    'language': 'english-us',
     'autoReadIncoming': True,
 },
 'braille':{
diff --git a/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py b/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py
index dd3c75ed..0bae1503 100644
--- a/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py
+++ b/src/fenrir/speechDriver/espeak.py
@@ -50,18 +50,20 @@ class driver():
     def setVoice(self, voice):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
+        if voice =='':
+            return False            
         return self._es.set_voice(voice)
 
     def setPitch(self, pitch):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
-
+        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Pitch, int(pitch * 99)) 
+        
     def setRate(self, rate):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
         return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Rate, int(rate*450 + 80))
 
-        return self._es.set_parameter(self._es.Parameter().Pitch, int(pitch * 99)) 
     def setModule(self, module):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
@@ -69,6 +71,8 @@ class driver():
     def setLanguage(self, language):
         if not self._isInitialized:
             return False
+        if language =='':
+            return False
         return self._es.set_voice(language)
 
     def setVolume(self, volume):