# Can you read IPA?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-read-ipa/847369>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 2, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-read-ipa/847369 "2020-02-02T05:26:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 39

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**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\
**Post date:** [February 3, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-read-ipa/847369/39 "2020-02-03T02:12:55Z")

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Taiwan uses a system called K.K., [Kenyon and Knott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pronouncing_Dictionary_of_American_English) which is similar but not identical to IPA. Here is [a chart](https://p3-tt.bytecdn.cn/img/mosaic-legacy/9b2200009196dd5098f5~noop_645x473.jpeg) which compares some of the symbols.

Teaching English here, then I got exposed to K.K. because they are used in the material for some of the English classes.

> [@IPA in the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipa-in-the-sdmb/762291/63):
>
> Discussion of pronunciation happens all the time on the SDMB. I don’t consider it a particularly esoteric or academic or specialized subject. All of us all the time are pronouncing things and hearing other people pronounce things, and around here people talk about pronuncation.
> 
> This is a viewpoint that comes up every once in a while here. “Don’t use those stupid dictionary symbols,” is a phrase stuck in my memory.
> 
> Here’s one example —
> 
> > [@IPA in the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipa-in-the-sdmb/762291/63):
> >
> > IPA is totally messed up. An incredible hodgepodge of symbols that make no sense whatsoever. While a “universal” alphabet is desirable, the way the IPA has gone about it is unbelievably bad.
> > 
> > Avoid it around “normal” people. I.e., nearly everyone.

Yes, but look at the very first reply on that thread:

> [@IPA in the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipa-in-the-sdmb/762291/2):
>
> I don’t think IPA usage should be mandated but I reserve the right to giggle behind my hand at people trying to compare pronunciations without using IPA or X-SAMPA or another phonetic notation system.

I’m surprised that there weren’t more responses like ftg’s after that condescending post.

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