How to use the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)

   The International Phonetic Alphabet is a set of symbols representing every sound that the human physiology can produce. It is used to write the pronunciation of any language, natural or otherwise. In this post I will be teaching you the basics of how to read the pronunciation of pulmonic consonants (which are the most common). For speakers of a language written with the Latin alphabet it's good news that the creators of the IPA are English speakers, and thus most symbols will look familiar. The pronunciations I will be showing (/…/) are not official, but my educated guesses. Syllables will be separated with dots (.) and an apostrophe (') marks the stressed syllable. The next table is the IPA's collection of pulmonic consonants:

   The following image, if rather incomplete, is a guide as to the position of the tongue for most of the PLACES of articulation. Note that while for most you only use your tongue, for bilabial it is your lips that matter, and for labio-dental your lower lip and upper teeth.

   Let's discuss MANNER of articulation. This section will be interactive (fun!).

   Nasal consonants are pronounced letting air escape your nose. For example, try to pronounce /m/ as in "Manhattan" /mæn'hæ.tən/, or /n/ as in "nose" /nəʊz/, or /ŋ/ as in "singer" /'sɪ.ŋə/. Note as well how your tongue and lips move to the positions shown in the second image.

   Stop consonants are pronounced by stoping the flow of air through the mouth and then bursting it out. For example, pronounce "pound" /pæʊnd/ and "bottle" /'bo.təl/, noting how your lips go in the same position as when your pronounced /m/. More examples: "deny" for /də'naɪ/ and "time" for /taɪm/ (which are alveolar, like /n/). Say "car" and "kettle" for /kaː/ and /'kɛ.təl/ and Google for /'gu.gəl/.

   Fricative consonants leave a small space for the air to pressure itself out. Pronounce "far" for /faː/, "vet" for /vɛt/, ·"three" for /θɹiː/, "though" for /ðəʊ/, "seven" for /'sɛ.vən/ and "shark" for /∫ aːk/.

   For sibilants you will have to get your tongue in a concave shape. Try to notice this subtlety in "seven" for /'sɛ.vən/ vs "three" for /θɹiː/, or "zip" for /zɪp/ vs "though" for /ðəʊ/.

   An approximant consonant is similar to a non-sibilant fricative only the tongue doesn't quite touch anything. For example, compare, in the word "three" /θɹiː/, the "th" /θ/ vs the "r" /ɹ/.

   Flaps are only shy touches with the tongue/lip(s)/teeth on the PLACE of articulation. For example, look at the American pronunciation of "water" /'wɔ.ɾa/.

   Trills are a struggle for English speakers. Try to pronounce the Spanish word "perro" (dog) /'pe.ro/, compared to "pero" (but) /'pe.ɾo/.

   Lateral consonants are pronounced by letting air flow through the sides of your tongue. For example, say "language" for /'læŋ.gwɪʤ/.

   Lateral fricatives are rare, non-existent in English. Welsh, though, has the /ɬ/ sound, as in "Llantwit" /'ɬan.twit/. To pronounce it, put your tongue in alveolar position (as in /n/, /t/, /s/ or /ɹ/) and blow – remember it's fricative!