Various Writing Systems Logographic (Idiographic) Writing SystemsLogographic (Idiographic) Writing Systems Phonographic Writing SystemsPhonographic Writing Systems –Syllabic Writing Systems –Alphabetic Writing Systems

Logographic (or Idiographic) Writing Systems Chinese characters (used in Chinese and Japanese)Chinese characters (used in Chinese and Japanese) –A character is a meaning unit and not necessarily a sound unit.

Phonographic Writing Systems Syllabic Writing SystemsSyllabic Writing Systems –A character is a syllable unit. –Japanese has two sets of syllabary Alphabetic Writing SystemsAlphabetic Writing Systems –A character is a sound unit. –Roman Alphabet –Greek Alphabet

What is a syllable? A combination of a consonant (or consonants) (optional) and a vowel (obligatory)A combination of a consonant (or consonants) (optional) and a vowel (obligatory)

One Example from Japanese The word sushi ‘sushi’ is spelled like this in Japanese:The word sushi ‘sushi’ is spelled like this in Japanese: The syllable “su” corresponds to the first character, and the syllable “shi” corresponds to the second character.The syllable “su” corresponds to the first character, and the syllable “shi” corresponds to the second character. In the Roman transliteration, you use five characters, but in the original Japanese writing system, you use just two characters.In the Roman transliteration, you use five characters, but in the original Japanese writing system, you use just two characters.

Alphabetic Writing Systems A character represents a consonant or a vowel (a minimal sound), not a combination thereof.A character represents a consonant or a vowel (a minimal sound), not a combination thereof. In an ideal situation, one should be able to use an existing alphabetic writing system for phonetic transcription.In an ideal situation, one should be able to use an existing alphabetic writing system for phonetic transcription. However, no existing alphabet is perfect in that there is no one-to-one correspondence between sounds and characters.However, no existing alphabet is perfect in that there is no one-to-one correspondence between sounds and characters.

Problems with the English Orthography The Roman Alphabet does not “fit” the English sound system well.The Roman Alphabet does not “fit” the English sound system well. The writing system tends to be more conservative than speech.The writing system tends to be more conservative than speech.

Examples same sound, different spelling: aye, buy, by, die, hi, Thai, height, guide.same sound, different spelling: aye, buy, by, die, hi, Thai, height, guide. different sound, same spelling: thought, though, Thomas; ate, at, father, manydifferent sound, same spelling: thought, though, Thomas; ate, at, father, many silent letters: listen, debt, know, psychology, right, mnemonic, balm, honest, sword, bomb, clue, Wednesdaysilent letters: listen, debt, know, psychology, right, mnemonic, balm, honest, sword, bomb, clue, Wednesday Missing letters: use (no ‘y’), fuse (no ‘y’)Missing letters: use (no ‘y’), fuse (no ‘y’)

Spelling tends to be more conservative than Speech gh is dropped in pronunciationgh is dropped in pronunciation –light German Licht, leicht) –right (German Recht, richtig) “ah” changes into “ey” and “e” is dropped“ah” changes into “ey” and “e” is dropped –name (German Name)

Foreign Spelling Conventions imposed into English Middle English “Reformed” SpellingMiddle English “Reformed” Spelling indite  indict dette  debt receit  receipt oure  hour

Additional reasons for adopting IPA A normal alphabet “ignores” some sound distinctions (often for a good reason). But in transcription, we want to be able to describe such distinctions as well.A normal alphabet “ignores” some sound distinctions (often for a good reason). But in transcription, we want to be able to describe such distinctions as well. We want to describe all sounds used in natural language, not just in English.We want to describe all sounds used in natural language, not just in English.

Spelling “ignores” some sound distinctions pin vs. spinpin vs. spin –These two “p” sounds have very different physical characteristics, a difference having to do with aspiration. –In IPA, the distinction is indicated by two partially different characters: [p h ] vs. [p]

Spelling Pronunciations Pronunciation imitates spellingPronunciation imitates spelling –often, soften

IPA There is a one-to-one correspondence between a sound and a symbol.There is a one-to-one correspondence between a sound and a symbol. –By looking an IPA symbol, you know how it should be pronounced. –When transcribing a sound, you know what symbol should be used for that sound.