Help Phonetics of Cambridge dictionary link
Pronunciation symbols are part of a phonetic system used to represent the way words are pronounced. They are commonly found in dictionaries, language guides, and linguistic resources. These symbols often come from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), a standardized system designed to represent the sounds of all spoken languages.
Here’s a quick guide to pronunciation symbols and how they work:
Key Points About Pronunciation Symbols:
1. Purpose:
• To show how words are pronounced, especially for learners of a language.
• To clarify sounds that may not be obvious from the word’s spelling.
2. Where They’re Found:
• In dictionaries: Usually written between slashes / / or brackets [ ].
Example: The word “cat” is shown as /kรฆt/ in IPA.
• In language learning materials or textbooks.
3. Types of Pronunciation Systems:
• International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): Used globally for all languages.
• Simplified Phonetics: Created for learners, often using regular letters with additional marks (e.g., ห for stress).
Example: English learners might see “หkรฆt” for “cat.”
Common IPA Symbols for English Pronunciation
Sound IPA Symbol Example
Consonants
“p” /p/ pin, cup
“b” /b/ bat, cab
“t” /t/ top, cat
“d” /d/ dog, add
“k” /k/ kite, back
“g” /ษก/ go, bag
“f” /f/ fish, laugh
“v” /v/ van, save
Vowels
“a” (short) /รฆ/ cat, map
“e” /eษช/ cake, make
“i” (short) /ษช/ sit, big
“o” /ษห/ law, saw
“u” (long) /uห/ blue, true
Stress and Intonation Symbols:
• Stress: ห (primary stress), ห (secondary stress).
Example: /หkษm.pษ.ni/ for “company.”
• Length: ห shows that a sound is long.
Example: /uห/ in “blue.”
Example of Pronunciation Guide in IPA:
For the word “photograph”:
• In IPA: /หfษส.tษ.ษกrษหf/
• Key notes:
• Primary stress is on the first syllable: หfษส.
• Vowel sounds are precisely indicated (ษ for a schwa sound, common in unstressed syllables).
If you’d like help learning these symbols or reading them for specific words, let me know!