Cursive forms of the International Phonetic Alphabet

Early specifications for the International Phonetic Alphabet included cursive forms of the letters designed for use in manuscripts and when taking field notes. However, the 1999 Handbook of the International Phonetic Association said:

There are cursive forms of IPA symbols, but it is doubtful if these are much in use today. They may have been of greater use when transcription by hand was the only way of recording speech, and so speed was essential. The cursive forms are harder for most people to decipher, and it is preferable to use handwritten versions which closely copy the printed form of the symbols.^[1]

Development

The cursive forms of the IPA presented in the 1912 edition of The principles of the International Phonetic Association. Two of these letters are obsolete: ⟨ǥ⟩ is now ⟨ɣ⟩, and ⟨ꜰ⟩ is now ⟨ɸ⟩.

The cursive forms of the IPA presented in the 1949 edition. Hover over the image to see modern printed letters. Click on any letter for a link to the corresponding article.

Example

The following passage is from the 1912 handbook:

The North Wind and the Sun spoken in 'Northern English'

IPA

Orthography

ðə nɔrθ wind ænd ðə sʌn wər dispjuːtiŋ hwitʃ wɔz ðə strɔŋɡər hwɛn ə trævələr keːm əlɔŋ ræpt in ə wɔrm kloːk. ðeː əɡriːd ðət ðə wʌn huː fərst meːd ðə trævələr teːk ɔf hiz kloːk ʃud bi konsidərd strɔŋɡər ðæn ði ʌðər. ðɛn ðə nɔrθ wind bluː wið ɔːl hiz mait, bʌt ðə mɔr hiː bluː ðə mɔr kloːsli did ðə trævələr foːld hiz kloːk əraund him; ænd æt lɑst ðə nɔrθ wind ɡeːv ʌp ði ətɛmpt. ðɛn ðə sʌn ʃɔn aut wɔrmli, ænd imiːdjətli ðə trævələr tuk ɔf hiz kloːk; ænd soː ðə nɔrθ wind wɔz oblaidʒd tu konfɛs ðæt ðə sʌn wɔz ðə strɔŋɡər ɔv ðə tuː.

The North Wind and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger when a traveller came along wrapped in a warm cloak. They agreed that the one who first made the traveller take off his cloak should be considered stronger than the other. Then the North Wind blew with all his might, but the more he blew the more closely did the traveller fold his cloak around him; and at last the North Wind gave up the attempt. Then the Sun shone out warmly, and immediately the traveller took off his cloak; and so the North Wind was obliged to confess that the Sun was the stronger of the two.

See also

• History of the International Phonetic Alphabet

References

1. International Phonetic Association (1999). Handbook of the International Phonetic Association: A Guide to the Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Cambridge University Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-52163751-0.