This could be just a real crazy idea, but does anybody have any clue how one could hook up different pushButtons to cause short sound files to play through speakers? Like a toy would, I suppose.
Or for less than half the price you could get the Wave Shield from Adafruit.
Info: http://www.ladyada.net/make/waveshield/
Buy Kit: http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17_21&products_id=94
It is a kit so you'll have to solder it together yourself but it already has libraries made for it, there's a step-by-step guide showing you how to assemble it, there's a video allowing you hear what it will sound like, it's less than half the price, etc. Good stuff.
Or for a bit more but a much more capable board you could get the rogue robotics rMP3 http://www.roguerobotics.com/
Depends on what the application is as to how good a board you need.
Mowcius
The Sparkfun 9715 mentioned above is $50, and can play MP3 snippets from a memory card, if I understand things properly.
If you want short phrases of spoken text like "Enter password", etc.... you can specify ANY text... the Speakjet might suit you... $26? $24... something like that. Also from Sparkfun (or other sources.)
Details of SpeakJet at...