# Conlang X-SAMPA Transcription Scheme

- Phoneme Transcription Schemes
- Consonants
  - Other Symbols
  - Manner of Articulation
- Vowels
  - Other Symbols
- Diacritics
  - Articulation
  - Phonation
  - Rounding and Labialization
  - Syllabicity
  - Consonant Release
  - Co-articulation
  - Tongue Root
- Suprasegmentals
  - Stress
  - Length
  - Rhythm
  - Tones
  - Intonation
- References

The Conlang X-SAMPA (CXS) transcription scheme is documented by Henrik Theiling. It is used on the conlang mailing list for transcribing the pronunciation of conlangs, but can be used outside that domain. CXS derives from X-SAMPA, making various incompatible changes to X-SAMPA with the intention of making it easier to read by choosing some representations that are closer to the IPA symbols.

This document uses a set of phoneme features based on the features originally developed by Evan Kirshenbaum. These features are described in the phonemes document.

The `_` character is used as a tie bar to join two phonemes, as well as the first character in several diacritics. It can be used for affricates and double articulations. The `_^` non-syllabic marker can be used for the second vowel in diphthongs.

The `)` character is used by CXS as an alternative tie bar that is placed after the second phoneme. This is preferred by CXS as it does not clash with any diacritics. For example, `ts)` is an affricate and `ts` is a consonant cluster of `t` followed by `s`.

The X-SAMPA `-` character to differentiate between affricates, double articulations, and diphthongs such as `ts` and consonant clusters such as `t-s` is not supported in CXS.

## Phoneme Transcription Schemes

BCP47 Subtag | Abbreviation | Transcription Scheme | Encoding
--- | --- | --- | ---
`fonipa` | IPA | International Phonetic Alphabet | Unicode
`fonxsamp` | X-SAMPA | Extended Speech Assessment Methods Phonetic Alphabet | ASCII
`x-foncxs` | CXS | Conlang X-SAMPA | ASCII
`x-fonkirsh` |  | Kirshenbaum (ASCII-IPA) | ASCII

1. `foncxs` and `fonkirsh` are private use extensions defined in the bcp47-extensions file, so have the `x-` private use specifier before their subtag names.

## Consonants

| `blb` |  | `lbd` |  | `dnt` |  | `alv` |  | `pla` |  | `rfx` |  | `alp` |  | `pal` |  | `vel` |  | `uvl` |  | `phr` |  | `glt` |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
| `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd`
`nas` |  | `m` |  | `F` |  |  |  | `n` |  |  |  | `n`` |  |  |  | `J` |  | `N` |  | `N\` |  |  |  |
`stp` | `p` | `b` |  |  |  |  | `t` | `d` |  |  | `t`` | `d`` |  |  | `c` | `J\` | `k` | `g` | `q` | `G\` | `>\` |  | `?` |
`sib` `afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`sib` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `s` | `z` | `S` | `Z` | `s`` | `z`` | `s\` | `z\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`frc` | `p\` | `B` | `f` | `v` | `T` | `D` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `C` | `j\` | `x` | `G` | `X` | `R` |  |  | `h` | `h\`
`lat` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `K` | `K\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`apr` |  |  |  | `P` |  |  |  | `r\` |  |  |  | `r\`` |  |  |  | `j` |  | `M\` |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `apr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `l` |  |  |  | `l`` |  |  |  | `L` |  | `L\` |  |  |  |  |  |
`flp` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `4` |  |  |  | `r`` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `flp` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `l\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`trl` |  | `B\` |  |  |  |  |  | `r` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `R\` | `H\` | `<\` |  |
`clk` | `O\` |  |  |  | `|\` |  | `!\` |  |  |  | `!\`` |  | `=\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `clk` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `|\|\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`imp` |  | `b_<` |  |  |  |  |  | `d_<` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `J\_<` |  | `g_<` |  | `G\` |  |  |  |
`ejc` | `p_>` |  |  |  |  |  | `t_>` |  |  |  | `t`_>` |  |  |  | `c_>` |  | `k_>` |  | `q_>` |  | `>\_>` |  |  |
`ejc` `frc` |  |  | `f_>` |  | `T_>` |  | `s_>` |  | `S_>` |  | `s`_>` |  |  |  |  |  | `x_>` |  | `X_>` |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `ejc` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `K_>` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

1. The X-SAMPA `X\` and `?\` are not specified by CXS. Instead, the `H\` and `<\` consonants are transcribed as fricatives and are included in their places.

2. `\v` can also be used for the labio-dental approximant `P` like in X-SAMPA.

3. `!\`` is specific to CXS. It is not listed in the IPA chart either.

### Other Symbols

| `bld` |  | `alv` |  | `pla` |  | `pal` |  | `lbv` |  | `vel` |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
| `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd`
`nas` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`stp` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`vzd` `frc` |  |  |  |  | `x\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`ptr` `apr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `H` |  |  | `W` | `w`
`fzd` `lat` `apr` |  |  |  | `5` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

1. `5` is supported as an alternative to `l_e` due to its use in some language- specific SAMPA phoneme sets.

### Manner of Articulation

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`ejc` | `_>` | ejective
`imp` | `_<` | implosive

## Vowels

| `fnt` |  | `cnt` |  | `bck` |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
| `unr` | `rnd` | `unr` | `rnd` | `unr` | `rnd`
`hgh` | `i` | `y` | `i\` | `u\` | `M` | `u`
`smh` | `I` | `Y` | `I\` | `U\` |  | `U`
`umd` | `e` | `2` | `@\` | `8` | `7` | `o`
`mid` |  |  | `@` |  |  |
`lmd` | `E` | `9` | `3` | `3\` | `V` | `O`
`sml` | `&` |  | `6` |  |  |
`low` | `a` | `&\` |  |  | `A` | `Q`

1. `i\` is in common usage in the conlang mailing list, but the X-SAMPA `1` transcription is also supported.

2. In CXS, the following vowels are different to the X-SAMPA transcriptions: `}` is replaced by `u\`, `{` by `&`, and `&` by `&\`. This makes CXS incompatible with X-SAMPA.

3. `I\` and `U\` are not listed in the IPA chart.

### Other Symbols

Symbol | Features
--- | ---
`@`` | `unr` `mid` `cnt` `rzd` `vwl`
`3`` | `unr` `lmd` `cnt` `rzd` `vwl`

1. `@`` and `3`` are not explicitly listed in CXS. The rhoticized diacritic is specified instead.

## Diacritics

### Articulation

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`lgl` | `◌_N` | linguolabial
`idt` |  | interdental
| `◌_d` | dental
`apc` | `◌_a` | apical
`lmn` | `◌_m` | laminal
| `◌_+` | advanced
| `◌_-` | retracted
| `◌_"` | centralized
|  | mid-centralized
| `◌_r` | raised
| `◌_l` | lowered

The articulations that do not have a corresponding feature name are recorded using the features of their new location in the consonant or vowel charts, not using the features of the base phoneme.

### Phonation

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`brv` | `◌_t` | breathy voice
`slv` | `◌_0` | slack voice
`stv` | `◌_v` | stiff voice
`crv` | `◌_k` | creaky voice
`glc` | `?_◌` | glottal closure

The IPA `_0` diacritic is also used to fill the `vls` spaces in the IPA consonant charts. Thus, when `_0` is used with a `vcd` consonant that does not have an equivalent `vls` consonant, the resulting consonant is `vls`, not `slv`.

### Rounding and Labialization

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`ptr` | `◌_w` | protruded
`cmp` |  | compressed

The degree of rounding/labialization can be specified using the following symbols:

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`mrd` | `◌_O` | more rounded
`lrd` | `◌_c` | less rounded

### Syllabicity

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`syl` | `◌=` | syllabic
`nsy` | `◌_^` | non-syllabic

### Consonant Release

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`asp` | `◌_h` | aspirated
`nrs` | `◌_n` | nasal release
`lrs` | `◌_l` | lateral release
`unx` | `◌_}` | no audible release (unexploded)

### Co-articulation

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`pzd` | `◌_j`, `◌;` | palatalized
`vzd` | `◌_G`, `◌_e` | velarized
`fzd` | `◌_?\`, `◌_e` | pharyngealized
`nzd` | `◌~`, `◌_~` | nasalized
`rzd` | `◌`` | rhoticized

1. CXS does not support using `'` for palatalisation as it conflicts with the primary stress symbol. The `;` symbol is CXS specific.

### Tongue Root

The tongue root position can be specified using the following features:

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`atr` | `◌_A` | advanced tongue root
`rtr` | `◌_q` | retracted tongue root

## Suprasegmentals

### Stress

Symbol | Name
--- | ---
`'◌`, `"◌` | primary stress
`"◌`, `,◌`, `%◌` | secondary stress

1. The `"` primary and `%` secondary stress markers are from X-SAMPA. The other symbols are CXS specific.

### Length

Feature | Symbol | Name
--- | --- | ---
`est` | `◌_X` | extra short
`hlg` | `◌:\` | half-long
`lng` | `◌:` | long
`elg` | `◌::` | extra long

1. The `::` symbol for `elg` is not listed in X-SAMPA, but is derived from the transcription for `lng`.

### Rhythm

Symbol | Name
--- | ---
`◌-\◌` | linking (no break)

### Tones

Symbol | Name
--- | ---
`◌_T` | extra high tone
`◌_H` | high tone
`◌_M` | mid tone
`◌_L` | low tone
`◌_B` | extra low tone
`!◌` | downstep
`^◌` | upstep

X-SAMPA additionally defines various symbols for contour tones that can be defined from the composite tone marks.

Symbol | Composite | Name
--- | --- | ---
`◌_R` | `◌_B_T` | rising contour
`◌_F` | `◌_T_B` | falling contour
`◌_R_F` | `◌_M_H_M` | rising-falling contour

### Intonation

Symbol | Name
--- | ---
`<R>` | global rise
`<F>` | global fall

## References

1. Theiling, Henrik, Conlang X-Sampa: modified X-Sampa used on the Conlang Mailing List. Revised 2017.