Phonetic Transcription with IPA

Phonetic Transcription

• The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a system that represents each sound of human speech with a single symbol.
• IPA symbols are enclosed in brackets [ ] or / /.
• IPA transcription can be used across languages.
• There is one symbol for every possible human sound.
• There is a 1-1 correspondence of sound to symbol.

Transcription Practice

• Transcribe words using IPA symbols:
  • Kick: [kIk]
  • Boot: [but]
  • She: [ʃi]
  • The: [ðә]
  • Thin: [θɪn]

Consonants

• Velars: produced by the back of the tongue and soft palate (velum)
  • [k]: kill, kid, cold, car, cook, kick, coke
  • [g]: go, gun, give, bag, mug, plague
• Velars can also be nasalized: [ŋ] (angma)
• Glottals: no active use of the tongue and other parts of the mouth
  • [h]: have, house, who, whose

Classification of Sounds

• Consonants can be classified by:
  • Place of articulation
  • Manner of articulation
  • Voicing (voiceless or voiced)

Places of Articulation

• Bilabials: sounds formed using both upper and lower lips
  • [b], [p], [m], [w]
• Labiodentals: sounds formed using upper teeth and lower lip
  • [f], [v]
• Dentals: sounds formed by the tongue tip behind the upper front teeth
  • [θ], [ð]
• Alveolars: sounds formed by the front part of the tongue on the alveolar ridge
  • [t], [d], [s], [z], [n], [l], [r]
• Palatals: sounds formed by the tongue and palate
  • [ʃ], [ʒ], [tʃ], [dʒ], [j]
• Glottals: sounds formed by the glottis (space between vocal cords and larynx)
  • [h]

Manner of Articulation

• Stops: [p], [b], [t], [d], [k], [g]
• Fricatives: [f], [v], [θ], [ð], [s], [z], [ʃ], [ʒ], [h]
• Affricates: [tʃ], [dʒ]
• Nasals: [m], [n], [ŋ]
• Liquids: [l], [r]
• Glides: [w], [j]

Voiced and Voiceless Sounds

• Voiced sounds: vocal cords are drawn together, air from lungs repeatedly pushes them apart as it passes through (vibration)
• Voiceless sounds: vocal cords are spread apart, air from lungs passes through unimpeded (no vibration)