# 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 Extended Speech Assessment Methods Phonetic Alphabet (X-SAMPA) transcription scheme was created by John C. Wells in 1995 as an extension to the various language-specific SAMPA phoneme sets available at that time. The intention was to be able to encode the 1993 IPA chart in ASCII, while preserving the scheme already developed by the language-specific phoneme sets where there are no conflicts in the representation of that ASCII character.

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, double articulations and diphthongs, but can lead to ambiguity with the corresponding diacritic. The X-SAMPA PDF document advises that `_` is only used for affricates and double articulations. In that case, the `_^` non-syllabic marker can be used for the second vowel in diphthongs.

The `-` character is described in the PDF version of X-SAMPA to differentiate between affricates, double articulations, and diphthongs such as `ts` and consonant clusters such as `t-s`.

## 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` | `X\` | `?\` | `h` | `h\`
`lat` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `K` | `K\` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`apr` |  |  |  | `v\` |  |  |  | `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. `J\` and `?` are defined in the PDF version of X-SAMPA, but not the HTML version.

2. `G\` is only mentioned in the opening description of the HTML version of X-SAMPA, but is defined properly in the PDF version.

3. `>\` is defined as an epiglottal plosive in X-SAMPA. In this document it is defined as a pharyngeal plosive to be consistent with the IPA transcription described in the phonemes document.

4. `P` can also be used for the labio-dental approximant `v\`.

5. `H\` and `<\` are defined in X-SAMPA as epiglottal fricatives. In this document they are defined as pharyngeal trills to be consistent with the IPA transcription described in the phonemes document.

### 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` | `1` | `}` | `M` | `u`
`smh` | `I` | `Y` |  |  |  | `U`
`umd` | `e` | `2` | `@\` | `8` | `7` | `o`
`mid` |  |  | `@` |  |  |
`lmd` | `E` | `9` | `3` | `3\` | `V` | `O`
`sml` | `{` |  | `6` |  |  |
`low` | `a` | `&` |  |  | `A` | `Q`

### Other Symbols

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

1. `@`` and `3`` are not explicitly listed in X-SAMPA. 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

1. The `{ptr}` (protruded) feature is described as labialized in X-SAMPA.

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

### 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

### 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. Wells, John C., Computer-coding the IPA: a proposed extension of SAMPA (HTML). Revised 2000.

2. Wells, John C., Computer-coding the IPA: a proposed extension of SAMPA (PDF). Revised 1995.

3. Wells, John C., SAMPA - computer readable phonetic alphabet. Revised 2005.