Re: USAGE: Shaw alphabet (was Re: USAGE: Con-graphies)

On 13/06/06, Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...> wrote:
> On 6/12/06, Tristan Alexander McLeay <conlang@...> wrote:
> > I assume you are possibly confused by the difference between the IPA
> > oe ligature œ and the IPA small caps oe ligature ɶ.
>
> Yup, that was, I think, obviously the case.
>
> > Starting from the top...
>
> Which there was, IME, no need to do . . .  :)
But it was fun to say that, and then do it, in a sense, literally :)

> > IPA [ɶ] = CXS [&\] = X-SAMPA [&] is the rounded form of [a], the open
> > front rounded vowel.
>
> That is, [a] is *un*rounded, and [ɶ] is the rounded version.
>
> Got it. My bad.
>
> I find it odd that the IPA has no symbol for a central low vowel, or
> for rounding differences in [æ] and [6]...
The IPA is limited to characters that are necessary. Rounded low
vowels are pretty rare; I imagine it's simply that none contrast the
four low rounded vowels you'd need to justify two more of them. (Or,
viewing [&] predominately as front, "the five front rounded vowels
...".)

(I find it odder that the IPA has an [æ] character; I assume it shows
the heritage of being intended to teach French speakers English. If it
was me, I would make <æ> the low front vowel, <ɑ> the low back vowel,
and <a> a low vowel used when no contrast is necessay or central.)

--
Tristan.

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