How to Learn English Using Phonetic Transcription
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) allows a speaker of any tongue to learn the correct pronunciation of another language's words. By using the IPA, you can learn to speak English. But you will need to follow some steps to make sure you are using the alphabet correctly.
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Things You'll Need
- International Phonetic Alphabet symbols chart
- English dictionary with phonetic spellings
Instructions
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1
Find a copy of English sounds, which are represented by symbols, in the IPA. These will look like hieroglyphics. Many websites and books contain charts with only the English sounds in the IPA. Find a chart that allows you plenty of room to write, or copy the symbols onto a piece of paper, skipping every two or three lines. Most IPA charts of American and British English sounds consist of 44 sounds, 20 vowels and 24 consonants. The number of sounds in a language is a matter of scholarly debate, however, as the count must include all dialects and a common understanding of where one sound ends and another begins.
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2
Familiarize yourself with the sounds. Next to each symbol, write a word or combination of letters that reminds you of the sound that the symbol represents. Some charts already provide this for you. But hey generally choose English words, which an English language learner might be unfamiliar with. Because of this, it's best to come up with your own device that will help you remember what sound the symbol represents.
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3
Group like sounds. According to Timothy Morris of the University of Texas, Arlington, each symbol can represent only one type of sound---a consonant or a vowel. Most English IPA charts will be divided into columns for consonants and vowels; however, consonants and vowels are also defined by other characteristics. For instance, the position of the tongue and lips and whether or not air flows through the nasal cavity during articulation create sounds with similar features. There are also diphthongs, vowels that are extraordinarily hard to transcribe because they sound like they are gliding toward a different sound. Learning these sounds is difficult, but having them broken up into similar sections can aid the process because they share similar features. For instance, Morris writes that the vowels are the hardest to transcribe because of their variability. You may be able to find a chart that breaks the IPA symbols down into these specific categories, but if you can't, you'll have have to group them after completing Step 2. Once you are able to recognize the sound that a symbol stands for, you will be able to identify its characteristics as you say it aloud and place it in the right category. To make this process easier, look at a list of the consonant and vowel types and their definitions as you group the symbols. Timothy Morris provides one such list at the University of Texas, Arlington, website.
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4
Memorize and practice the English sounds. Looking at the symbol that represents a sound, say the sound aloud. Repeat this step until you have learned all of the English sounds in the IPA.
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5
Study the phonetic transcriptions of words. In most English dictionaries, a word's phonetic transcription into the IPA appears next to the English spelling. Looking at the phonetic transcription, sound out the word by merging the individual IPA symbols that you memorized in the first step.
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Repeat words' pronunciations while studying their spelling. Focus not only on memorizing how to say a certain words, but on patterns that exist between letters and sounds.
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Tips & Warnings
The International Phonetic Alphabet is best used to learn the English pronunciation of words. To learn English grammar, supplement your lessons with grammar exercises.
According to the Handbook of the International Phonetic Association (see Reference 2), the IPA has several limitations, one being that it is always difficult to make IPA transcriptions sound as native speakers actually say them.
