An instrumentation and control field device (210, 300) comprising: a processor (212, 310) that monitors the operational status of the instrumentation and control field device (210, 300); a memory coupled to the processor (212, 310); a speech synthesizer that produces sounds, including allophones; a speaker (213, 370); an amplifier; at least one pushbutton (355, 360); a motion sensor responsive to personnel (150, 250) and/or vehicles within a predetermined proximity to the instrumentation and control field device (210, 300); an alarm routine stored in the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor (212, 310) upon a recognition by the processor (212, 310) that the instrumentation and control field device (210, 300) requires repair or maintenance, wherein if the motion sensor indicates personnel and/or vehicles are within the predetermined proximity, the alarm routine causes an audible alarm to be sounded by the amplifier and speaker (213, 370) at a level audible to personnel (150, 250) in the vicinity of the field device (210, 300); a status routine stored in the memory and adapted to be executed in the processor (212, 310) upon manual actuation of a pushbutton that transmits a text status to the speech synthesizer, the speech synthesizer converting the text status to a spoken status and forwarding the spoken status for sounding by the amplifier and speaker (213, 370); and an instructional routine stored in the memory and adapted to be executed in the processor (212, 310) upon manual actuation of a pushbutton that transmits a text instruction to the speech synthesizer, the speech synthesizer converting the text instruction to a spoken instruction and forwarding the spoken instruction for sounding by the amplifier and speaker (213, 370), wherein the text instruction and the spoken instruction guide an operator (150, 250) in providing the required repair or maintenance. a processor (212, 310) that monitors the operational status of the instrumentation and control field device (210, 300); a memory coupled to the processor (212, 310); a speech synthesizer that produces sounds, including allophones; a speaker (213, 370); an amplifier; at least one pushbutton (355, 360); a motion sensor responsive to personnel (150, 250) and/or vehicles within a predetermined proximity to the instrumentation and control field device (210, 300); an alarm routine stored in the memory and adapted to be executed by the processor (212, 310) upon a recognition by the processor (212, 310) that the instrumentation and control field device (210, 300) requires repair or maintenance, wherein if the motion sensor indicates personnel and/or vehicles are within the predetermined proximity, the alarm routine causes an audible alarm to be sounded by the amplifier and speaker (213, 370) at a level audible to personnel (150, 250) in the vicinity of the field device (210, 300); a status routine stored in the memory and adapted to be executed in the processor (212, 310) upon manual actuation of a pushbutton that transmits a text status to the speech synthesizer, the speech synthesizer converting the text status to a spoken status and forwarding the spoken status for sounding by the amplifier and speaker (213, 370); and an instructional routine stored in the memory and adapted to be executed in the processor (212, 310) upon manual actuation of a pushbutton that transmits a text instruction to the speech synthesizer, the speech synthesizer converting the text instruction to a spoken instruction and forwarding the spoken instruction for sounding by the amplifier and speaker (213, 370), wherein the text instruction and the spoken instruction guide an operator (150, 250) in providing the required repair or maintenance.