Espeak - event loop and recurrent say calls fix

.github/workflows/python_publish.yml

@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@ jobs:
       - if: runner.os == 'Linux'
         run: |
           sudo apt-get update -q -q
-          sudo apt-get install --yes espeak-ng libespeak1 alsa-utils
-          sudo modprobe snd-dummy
+          sudo apt-get install --yes espeak-ng libespeak1 alsa-utils ffmpeg
       - if: runner.os == 'macOS'
         run: brew install espeak-ng
       - name: Download and install eSpeak-NG

pyttsx3/drivers/espeak.py

@@ -208,7 +208,11 @@ def _onSynth(self, wav, numsamples, events):
                         if platform.system() == "Darwin":
                             subprocess.run(["afplay", temp_wav_name], check=True)
                         elif platform.system() == "Linux":
-                            os.system(f"aplay {temp_wav_name} -q")
+                            try:
+                                subprocess.run(f"aplay {temp_wav_name} -q", shell=True, check=True)
+                            except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+                                logging.debug("Falling back to ffplay for audio playback.")
+                                subprocess.run(f"ffplay -autoexit -nodisp {temp_wav_name}", shell=True)
                         elif platform.system() == "Windows":
                             winsound.PlaySound(temp_wav_name, winsound.SND_FILENAME)