When should one use /fubar/ and when [fubar] when transcribing in IPA? What are the differences?
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When should one use slashes or square brackets when transcribing in IPA?
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asked Sep 20 '11 at 2:12
Louis Rhys
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2 Answers
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[fubar] is used for phonetic transcriptions (emphasizing what is actually articulated) and /fubar/ for phonological transcriptions (emphasizing what is phonologically contrastive).
For example [pʰɛʔts] vs /pets/ (or even /petz/) with the implication that former is predictable from the latter using phonological rules.
answered Sep 20 '11 at 4:02
James Tauber
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Typically, use slashes for broad [phonemic] transcriptions and brackets for narrow [phonetic] transcriptions.
I hope that I got that right.
answered Sep 20 '11 at 4:00
Daniel Wolfe
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When should one use slashes or square brackets when transcribing in IPA?
up vote
14
down vote
When should one use /fubar/ and when [fubar] when transcribing in IPA? What are the differences?
asked Sep 20 '11 at 2:12
Louis Rhys
8,0526 gold badges39 silver badges68 bronze badges
8,0526 gold badges39 silver badges68 bronze badges
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[fubar] is used for phonetic transcriptions (emphasizing what is actually articulated) and /fubar/ for phonological transcriptions (emphasizing what is phonologically contrastive).
For example [pʰɛʔts] vs /pets/ (or even /petz/) with the implication that former is predictable from the latter using phonological rules.
answered Sep 20 '11 at 4:02
James Tauber
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8935 silver badges13 bronze badges
@LouisRhys in English, there are no cases where alternating [pʰ] and [p] changes the meaning of an utterance. Which one is articulated is entirely predictable from the context and so many theories models this as a single /p/. /p/ and /b/ contrast because, for example, /pat/ and /bat/ are different words. [pʰ] and [p] do not contrast at this level. - James Tauber Sep 20 '11 at 6:40
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