Re: ASCII IPA (Was Re: Zetowvu / Ezotwuv (new conlang))

Eamon Graham wrote:
>I think this would be an interesting idea; I at least would be
>interested in comparing notes on our personal systems we've
>developed.  Even if such a system is not adopted as a standard among
>conlangers, it might help us in our personal notes.  Frankly, even
>when I have the option of using IPA fonts (and I do of course) I
>find it easier to just use my ASCII-IPA for my personal uses.
Funnily enough, I'm the same. Firstly I don't really like the look of the
SIL IPA fonts and secondly it's a hassle to change fonts just for the sake
of IPA characters which can be just as easily be expressed using ASCII. The
only time I ever use IPA fonts is when writing up "finished" grammars, as I
am currently doing for Arvorec. Even then I tend to mix Times New Roman and
SIL's Doulos.

>In creating my system I began by listing what my _personal_ needs in
>an ASCII IPA are and worked from there.  Here's the thing: X-SAMPA,
>Kirshenbaum, and Carrasquer (a system I rather like) were all
>designed to fulfill different needs and expectations in an IPA ASCII
>transliteration.
It seems to me that we *already* have a rather ad hoc "Conlanger's IPA".
Most of us tend to mix and match certain features from each system, using
X-SAMPA as a basis; most notably using the ampersand to represent ash
rather than "2" a la Kirshenbaum seems to be almost a conlanging standard.

Personally I tend to mix and match systems as I see fit- as long as the end
result is understandable I feel that it doesn't really matter what
"standard" I use. For example I tend to use "n_j" for the palatal nasal
rather than Kirshenbaum's "n^". It's also worth noting that most people on
the list haven't studied IPA representations per se but picked them up in
bits and pieces from the list; I know I have.

In all, I don't think any of us have any trouble reading anyone's IPA
representations, so IMHO a list-wide "standard" seems rather unneccessary.

Dan

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Pa vezer o vageal e bae Douarnenez e klever a-wechoù un trouz iskis:
         Kleier kêr Is a zo a seniñ dinandan ar mor.

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