International Phonetic Association
Encyclopedia
The International Phonetic Association (IPA) is an organization that promotes the scientific study of phonetics
and the various practical applications of that science. The IPA’s major contribution to phonetics is the International Phonetic Alphabet
—a notational standard for the phonetic representation of all languages. The acronym IPA is used to refer to both the association and the alphabet.
The IPA also publishes the Journal of the International Phonetic Association
.
, a small group of language teachers formed an association to encourage the use of phonetic notation in schools to help children acquire realistic pronuonciations of foreign languages and also to aid in teaching reading to young children. The group, led by Paul Passy
, called itself initially Dhi Fonètik Tîcerz' Asóciécon (the FTA). In January 1889, the name of the Association was changed to L'Association Phonétique des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes (AP), and, in 1897, to L'Association Phonétique Internationale (API)—in English, the International Phonetic Association (IPA). The IPA’s early peak of membership and influence in education circles was around 1914, when there were 1751 members in 40 countries. World War I
and its aftermath severely disrupted the Association's activities, and the Journal did not resume regular publication until 1922.
progressed rapidly up to the turn of the 20th century. Since then, there have been several sets of changes to the Alphabet, with additions and deletions that the progress of the science of phonetics has indicated.
Phonetics
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that comprises the study of the sounds of human speech, or—in the case of sign languages—the equivalent aspects of sign. It is concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds or signs : their physiological production, acoustic properties, auditory...
and the various practical applications of that science. The IPA’s major contribution to phonetics is the International Phonetic Alphabet
International Phonetic Alphabet
The International Phonetic Alphabet "The acronym 'IPA' strictly refers [...] to the 'International Phonetic Association'. But it is now such a common practice to use the acronym also to refer to the alphabet itself that resistance seems pedantic...
—a notational standard for the phonetic representation of all languages. The acronym IPA is used to refer to both the association and the alphabet.
The IPA also publishes the Journal of the International Phonetic Association
Journal of the International Phonetic Association
The Journal of the International Phonetic Association is a peer-reviewed academic journal that appears three times a year and was established in 1971 by the International Phonetic Association. It covers topics in phonetics and applied phonetics such as speech therapy and voice recognition...
.
Early history
In 1886, in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a small group of language teachers formed an association to encourage the use of phonetic notation in schools to help children acquire realistic pronuonciations of foreign languages and also to aid in teaching reading to young children. The group, led by Paul Passy
Paul Passy
Paul Édouard Passy was a French linguist, founder of the International Phonetic Association in 1886.He took part in the elaboration of the International Phonetic Alphabet....
, called itself initially Dhi Fonètik Tîcerz' Asóciécon (the FTA). In January 1889, the name of the Association was changed to L'Association Phonétique des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes (AP), and, in 1897, to L'Association Phonétique Internationale (API)—in English, the International Phonetic Association (IPA). The IPA’s early peak of membership and influence in education circles was around 1914, when there were 1751 members in 40 countries. World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and its aftermath severely disrupted the Association's activities, and the Journal did not resume regular publication until 1922.
Development of the Alphabet
The group’s initial aim was to create a set of phonetic symbols to which different articulations could apply, such that each language would have an alphabet particularly suited to describe the sounds of the language. Eventually it was decided that a universal alphabet, with the same symbol being used for the same sound in different languages was the ideal, and development of the International Phonetic AlphabetInternational Phonetic Alphabet
The International Phonetic Alphabet "The acronym 'IPA' strictly refers [...] to the 'International Phonetic Association'. But it is now such a common practice to use the acronym also to refer to the alphabet itself that resistance seems pedantic...
progressed rapidly up to the turn of the 20th century. Since then, there have been several sets of changes to the Alphabet, with additions and deletions that the progress of the science of phonetics has indicated.