On Tue, 30 Mar 2021, Steve Nutt wrote:

I am using NVDA more and more now in my daily work, but I do find it
frustrating that Espeak doesn’t pronounce many Emojis correctly.  For example,
the Colon followed by Right Bracket, should be “Smiling Face with Smiling Eyes”.
But it is oddly pronounced by Espeak as Twelve.

Hi Steve

I know this was a couple weeks ago, but during this thread, I don't think anyone mentioned the Emoticons add-on, which might be of some help to you.
https://addons.nvda-project.org/./addons/emoticons.en.html

Luke

"In this life there are obstacles, and forces who overcome obstacles. You can be either one or the other.
If you refuse to even try to clear an obstacle, you become the obstacle."
- Joel Shepherd