The International Phonetic Alphabet of the International Phonetic Association

The International Phonetic Association (IPA) is the major as well as the oldest representative organization for phoneticians. It was established in 1886 in Paris. The aim of the IPA is to promote the scientific study of phonetics and the various practical applications of that science. The IPA provides the academic community world-wide with a notational standard for the phonetic representation of all languages, the International Phonetic Alphabet (also IPA). The latest version of the IPA Alphabet was published in 1993 and updated in 1996. Beyond the field of phonetics, this discipline has real application for students of voice, particularly those in a performing arts career like singing, acting, or voice-over work.

The Association has edited the Handbook of the International Phonetic Association: A guide to the use of the International Phonetic Alphabet, published by Cambridge University Press (1999). It replaces the booklet, The Principles of the International Phonetic Association (London 1949). It is available in both hardback and paperback editions. The Handbook is an essential reference work for all those involved in the analysis of speech. The basics of phonetic analysis are presented so that the principles underlying the Alphabet can be readily understood. Examples are given of the use of each of the phonetic symbols. In addition, audio files to accompany the language Illustrations may be downloaded.

Credit goes to the International Phonetic Association (c/o Department of Linguistics, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) for providing the chart.