International Phonetic Alphabet: Introduction to the IPA

In this video I give a basic explanation of the International Phonetic Alphabet. I talk about the origins of the IPA, some of its conventions, and what kinds of things it can do. This video doesn't explain specific IPA symbols, but is intended to give a background to students just starting out.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• ipa
• international
• phonetic
• alphabet
• pronunciation
• diction
• foreign
• language
• french
• italian
• german
• singing
• singers
• instruc

[Brando2600]

I know that some languages have tones associated with them (like Mandarin). When that is the case, what other variables are left to express emotion phonetically?

[chebellamelodia]

@Brando2600 Well, there's still dynamic intensity - how loudly or softly someone speaks, speed, rhythm, and overall pitch. Also, the tones of the language aren't so extreme as to preclude all other pitch inflection. If you take the inflection of a sentence (in a non-tonal language) the tone dictates the pitch *relative* to that general line. For some things, like questions, Mandarin does not use inflection but uses the word ma as kind of an auditory question mark.

[committeeofsa]

You successfully conveyed the fundamentals of the IPA. Very well structured and presented. Thank you. 

[TheGamebusterMarc]

Great video. Very useful.

[megalatino78]

Thank you very much.

[shadowzero7891x]

Many, many thanks. Sub'd.

[TimAmukele]

Good stuff! Also like the slide show format.