The operation mode control section sets the operation mode flag so as to prohibit any speech input operation using the microphone when the printer is driven for a printing operation and permits the speech input operation only after completing the printing operation. When a speech input operation using the microphone is specified by the speech input start operation section, the operation of the speech input processing section is prohibited as the operation mode flag is set to prohibit any speech input operation using the microphone so that the microphone is held to a stand-by state until a speech input operation using the microphone is permitted by the operation mode flag or the operation of the printer is terminated.
