IPA History

Question 0

What was the IPA’s goal?

Answer 0

To devise a system for transcribing the sounds of speech
which was independent of any particular language
and applicable to all languages.

Question 1

What is the IPA? (APA?)

Answer 1

Association Phonétique Internationale
(International Phonetic Association),
a group of French language teachers
founded by Paul Passy.

Question 2

What script was used as a model for the IPA?

Answer 2

A phonetic script for English
created in 1847
by Isaac Pitman and Henry Ellis.

Question 3

Of what use is the IPA?

Answer 3

• Used in dictionaries to indicate the pronunciation of words.
• Used as a basis for creating new writing systems for previously unwritten languages.
• Used in some foreign language text books and phrase books to transcribe the sounds of languages which are written with non-latin alphabets.
• Used by non-native speakers of English when learning to speak English.