Lemery Colleges, Inc.

A. Bonifacio St., Brgy. Bagong Sikat, Lemery, Batangas

College of Teacher
Education

Sangalang, Julie Ann D.

BSED IV-ENGLISH

Activity 4

Topics:

1. The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

2. Transcription

1. Secure a copy of the IPA chart, and learn the correct production of
sounds based on the key words presented.

2. Learn how to transcribe.

Answer:

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is an academic standard

created by the International Phonetic Association. The concept of the IPA
was first broached by Otto Jespersen in a letter to Paul Passy of the
International Phonetic Association and was developed by A.J. Ellis, Henry
Sweet, Daniel Jones, and Passy in the late 19th century. Its creators’ intent
was to standardize the representation of spoken language, thereby
sidestepping the confusion caused by the inconsistent conventional spellings
used in every language. The IPA was also intended to supersede the existing
multitude of individual transcription systems. It was first published in 1888
and was revised several times in the 20th and 21st centuries.
IPA is a phonetic notation system that uses a set of symbols to represent
each distinct sound that exists in human spoken language. It encompasses
all languages spoken on earth. The system was created in 1886 and was
last updated in 2005. It consists of 107 letters, 52 diacritics, and four
prosodic marks.
The IPA is based on the Latin alphabet, but includes some non-Latin
characters as well.
A “diacritical mark” or “diacritical point”, “diacritical signis” is a glyph
added to a letter, or basic glyph. Diacritical marks are added above, under
or within a letter. They sometimes can also be placed in between two letters.
Prosody is a representation of the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech.
The IPA primarily uses Roman characters. Other letters are borrowed from
different scripts (e.g., Greek) and are modified to conform to Roman style.
Diacritics are used for fine distinctions in sounds and to show nasalization
of vowels, length, stress, and tones.

International Phonetic Association

The International Phonetic Association was founded in 1886 and is the
oldest organization for phoneticians. The association’s mission is to
“promote the scientific study of phonetics”. Several important dates in
IPA history were recently commemorated. 2011 was the 125th anniversary
of the founding of the IPA. In 2013, the International Phonetic Association
 Lemery Colleges, Inc.
A. Bonifacio St., Brgy. Bagong Sikat, Lemery, Batangas
College of Teacher
Education

celebrated 125 years since the first publication of the International Phonetic
Alphabet

Who Uses the International Phonetic Alphabet?

The IPA provides students with a greater understanding of the English
language by accurately and uniquely representing the sounds of oral
language. The IPA is used by
 Lexicographers
 Foreign Language Students
 Teachers
 Linguists
 Speech-Language Pathologists
 Singers
 Actors
 Constructed Language Creators
 Translators

Many American linguists have found that using a combination of IPA and
Americanist phonetic notation is the best way to communicate with other
linguists worldwide. An extended set of symbols represent different qualities
of speech, such as tooth gnashing, lisping, and sounds made with a cleft
palate.
How Many International Phonetic Alphabets Are There?
There are many ways to count this, but the most complete and up-to-date
list is found in the International Phonetic Association’s 2005 IPA chart,
number 122. This chart includes all 78 current languages with phonemic
scripts, some extinct languages, and some that have not been written in a
phonemic script for centuries.
The IPA is the most commonly used and well-known international phonetic
alphabet, but it is not the only one. Other alphabets include the Canadian
Aboriginal Syllabics Alphabet (CASA), the Swahili Phonetic Alphabet (SWA),
and the Thai Phonetic Alphabet (TPA). Each alphabet has its own set of
symbols and sounds to represent the sounds of oral language.
How to Use the IPA Chart
The IPA chart helps you identify the sounds of language. To use the chart,
first, familiarize yourself with the symbols and their corresponding sounds.
Next, practice pronouncing the sounds. Finally, start using the IPA in speech
and writing.
The IPA is based on the Latin alphabet in order to correspond to an
international standard. This standard represents the sounds of all 78
languages that use phonemic scripts. It is also the standard the United
Nations uses to represent sounds in all languages that use a writing system.
Lemery Colleges, Inc.
A. Bonifacio St., Brgy. Bagong Sikat, Lemery, Batangas
College of Teacher
Education