Re: IPA/SAMP question

> Date:         Tue, 13 Nov 2001 21:08:03 EST
> From: Josh Roth <Fuscian@...>
>
> In a message dated 11/13/01 3:28:39 PM, DigitalScream@AOL.COM writes:
>
> >In a message dated 11/13/01 11:32:46 AM, matrix14@HOME.COM writes:
> >
> ><< I have a vowel in Eviendadhail that I've decided is halfway
> >between /E/ ('short e') and /e/ ('long a'). My question is, is
> >there a symbol for this? >>
> >
> >    The only way the IPA chart deals with this is with arrows.
> Aren't the arrows for tones? I think you'd use the raised or lowered
> symbols - /_r/ and /_o/ respectively. Which would would make the
> sound /e_o/ or /E_r/. I could be wrong though.
Tones are a mess in IPA, but arrows are one option.

The diacritics for raised and lowered are little tacks (T-shapes)
under the letter --- pointing up for raised, and down for lowered.
X-SAMPA is _r and _o, as you say.

First off, unless Eviendadhail has phonemic contrast between all of
[e], [e_o], and [E], I'd just use /e/ or /E/ for the phoneme with the
[e_o] sound. Phonemic transcription should be kept as simple as
possible. And if there's no other e-like sound to contrast with, I'd
use /e/, simply to minimize weirdness --- the IPA symbol for [e] is a
plain latin letter.

And once that choice is made, it would be natural to use a variant of
the same symbol for phonetic or close transcription. So if the midway
sound becomes /e/, I'd write it [e_o], if it's /E/, I'd use [E_r].

Lars Mathiesen (U of Copenhagen CS Dep) <thorinn@...> (Humour NOT marked)

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