change words with similar words

[haikur]

Hi everybody!
I'm trying to write a program that is able to look inside a txt file and change, for example, the first word with a similar word. The txt file will have one word for line.

EXAMPLE:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ORIGINAL TXT FILE:

tom
lives

CHANGED TXT FILE:

mum
lives

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

I need to build a database of words with a similar sound, of course (mum, tom, son, sean, john...)
and I think i'll have to use python's regex, but i actually have no idea about how to implement it...
any suggestion? I'm very new in programming and I think my problem is not so difficult, but i don't know where to start from... *_*
Thanks!

h.

[rikxik]

Maybe this will get you started:

http://diveintopython.org/performance_tuning/index.html

HTH

[wdyck]

If you are having to do anything with language you might want to take a look at the Natural Language Toolkit,

http://nltk.sourceforge.net/index.php/Main_Page

Wayne

[ http://www.platoscave.net ]

[Miyuki]

You should consider making a soundex class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundex

This should help more than using regex.