Text can be presented with speech indicators generated by a cognitive system by processing the text. The speech indicators can indicate recommended speech characteristics to be exhibited by a user while the user generates spoken utterances representing the text. Data indicating at least one user input changing at least one of the speech indicators from a first state as originally presented to a second state can be received. In response, a value indicating a level of change made to the at least one of the speech indicators can be determined. At least one parameter used by the cognitive system to select the speech indicators can be modified or created based on the value indicating the level of change made to the at least one of the speech indicators.