# Kirshenbaum (ASCII-IPA) Transcription Scheme

- Phoneme Transcription Schemes
- Consonants
  - Other Symbols
- Vowels
  - Other Symbols
- Diacritics
- Suprasegmentals
  - Stress
  - Length
- References

The Kirshenbaum (ASCII-IPA) transcription scheme was created by Evan Kirshenbaum and others between 1991 and 1993 for use in Usenet and e-mail. Since then, the support for Unicode has greatly improved. An ASCII encoding of IPA is still useful as it is often easier to type.

The Kirshenbaum transcription scheme defines a set of phoneme features that are described in eSpeak NG in the phonemes document. The `cainteoir` and `espeak-ng` phoneme features defined in that document are not useable in transcriptions using the Kirshenbaum transcription scheme. They are used here where relevant to define the Kirshenbaum phonemes in a consistent way across the different transcription schemes.

Broad (phonemic) transcriptions are enclosed in `/` characters (`/p/`), while narrow (phonetic) transcriptions are wrapped in `[` and `]` characters (`[p]`).

A phoneme can be transcribed as a named phoneme (`p`), or as a set of features wrapped in `{` and `}` characters (`{vls,blb,stp}`). A feature (typically a diacritic) of a phoneme can be added or modified by wrapping the feature in `<` and `>` characters after the base phoneme (`p<dnt>`).

## 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` |  | `M` |  | `n[` |  | `n` |  |  |  | `n.` |  |  |  | `n^` |  | `N` |  | `n"` |  |  |  |
`stp` | `p` | `b` |  |  | `t[` | `d[` | `t` | `d` |  |  | `t.` | `d.` |  |  | `c` | `J` | `k` | `g` | `q` | `G` |  |  | `?` |
`sib` `afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`sib` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `s` | `z` | `S` | `Z` | `s.` | `z.` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`frc` | `P` | `B` | `f` | `v` | `T` | `D` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `C` | `C<vcd>` | `x` | `Q` | `X` | `g"` | `H` | `H<vcd>` | `h` | `h<?>`
`lat` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `s<lat>` | `z<lat>` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`apr` |  |  |  | `r<lbd>` |  | `r[` |  | `r` |  |  |  | `r.` |  |  |  | `j` |  | `j<vel>` |  | `g"` |  |  |  |
`lat` `apr` |  |  |  |  |  | `l[` |  | `l` |  |  |  | `l.` |  |  |  | `l^` |  | `L` |  |  |  |  |  |
`flp` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `*` |  |  |  | `*.` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `flp` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `*<lat>` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`trl` |  | `b<trl>` |  |  |  |  |  | `r<trl>` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `r"` |  |  |  |
`clk` | `p!` |  |  |  | `t!` |  | `c!` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `c!` |  | `k!` |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `clk` |  |  |  |  |  |  | `l!` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`imp` |  | `b`` |  |  |  | `d`` |  | `d`` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `J`` |  | `g`` |  | `G`` |  |  |  |
`ejc` | `p`` |  |  |  | `t[`` |  | `t`` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `c`` |  | `k`` |  | `q`` |  |  |  |  |
`ejc` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`lat` `ejc` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

1. `h` is transcribed as `{glt,apr}` in ASCII-IPA. It is transcribed as `{glt,frc}` in this document to match the assignment used in the Wikipedia IPA table, and the placement in other documents in eSpeak NG. The IPA chart places them as being `{frc}` or `{apr}`, as does the main Wikipedia page for the `[h]` phoneme.

2. The `q`` phoneme is incorrectly placed in the segment table (Appendix D) of the ASCII-IPA document. According to the diacritics list (Appendix C), the ``` character denotes an `{ejc}` phoneme for a `{vls}` base phoneme, not `{imp}` which is used for `{vcd}` base phonemes. The table above uses the correct assignment.

3. The `L` phoneme has an alternate meaning in ASCII-IPA. This document only describes the variant preferred by Evan Kirshenbaum.

### Other Symbols

| `bld` |  | `alv` |  | `pla` |  | `pal` |  | `lbv` |  | `vel` |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
| `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd` | `vls` | `vcd`
`nas` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `n<lbv>` |  |
`stp` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `t<lbv>` | `d<lbv>` |  |
`afr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`vzd` `frc` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
`ptr` `apr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | `w<vls>` | `w`
`fzd` `lat` `apr` |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

1. The `w` phoneme is transcribed as being `{vcd,lbv,frc}` or `{lbv,apr}`, and `w<vls>` as `{vls,lbv,frc}` in ASCII-IPA. They are transcribed as `{ptr,vel,apr}` in this document to match their definition as labialized velar approximants in the IPA chart.

## Vowels

| `fnt` |  | `cnt` |  | `bck` |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
| `unr` | `rnd` | `unr` | `rnd` | `unr` | `rnd`
`hgh` | `i` | `y` | `i"` | `u"` | `u-` | `u`
`smh` | `I` | `I.` |  |  |  | `U`
`umd` | `e` | `Y` | `@<umd>` |  | `o-` | `o`
`mid` |  |  | `@` | `@.` |  |
`lmd` | `E` | `W` | `V"` | `O"` | `V` | `O`
`sml` | `&` |  |  |  |  |
`low` | `a` | `a.` |  |  | `A` | `A.`

1. The `&` phoneme is transcribed as being `{low,fnt,unr,vwl}`, and `a` as `{low,cnt,unr,vwl}` in ASCII-IPA. This does not match their placement in the IPA chart according to the Unicode characters those ASCII-IPA phonemes map to. As such, the table above reflects their IPA chart positions.

2. The `&.` phoneme is defined in the segment table (Appendix D) of the ASCII-IPA definition. According to the IPA charts, this is not a valid phoneme. As such, it is not listed in the table above.

3. The `W` and `Y` phonemes have an alternate meaning in ASCII-IPA. This document only describes the variant preferred by Evan Kirshenbaum.

### Other Symbols

Symbol | Features
--- | ---
`R` | `unr` `mid` `cnt` `rzd` `vwl`
`R<umd>` | `unr` `lmd` `cnt` `rzd` `vwl`

1. The `R<umd>` phoneme is transcribed as being `{umd,cnt,unr,rzd,vwl}` in ASCII-IPA. However, the IPA phoneme it is representing is based on the `{lmd}` vowel. The table above keeps the `<umd>` modifying feature to be compatible with ASCII-IPA, but assigns it to `{lmd}` in this case to be compatible with the IPA chart.

2. The `R` phoneme has an alternate meaning in ASCII-IPA. This document only describes the variant preferred by Evan Kirshenbaum.

## Diacritics

Symbol | Feature
--- | ---
`!` | `{clk}`
`[` | `{dnt}`
`;` | `{pzd}`
`^` | `{pal}`
`<H>` | `{fzd}`
`<h>` | `{asp}`
`<o>` | `{unx}`
`<r>` | `{rzd}`
`<w>` | `{ptr}`
`<?>` | `{brv}`

1. The `<o>` diacritic has an alternate meaning in ASCII-IPA. This document only describes the variant preferred by Evan Kirshenbaum.

2. The `{ptr}` (protruded) feature is specified as `{lzd}` (labialized) in ASCII-IPA.

3. The `{brv}` (breathy voice) feature is specified as `{mrm}` (murmured) in ASCII-IPA.

The ASCII-IPA transcription scheme defines several diacritics that vary in meaning depending on whether the base phoneme is a vowel or consonant.

Symbol | Vowel | Consonant
--- | --- | ---
`~` | `{nzd}` | `{vzd}`
`-` | `{unr}` | `{syl}`
`.` | `{rnd}` | `{rfx}`
`"` | `{cnt}` | `{uvl}`

The ASCII-IPA transcription scheme defines several diacritics that vary in meaning depending on the voicing of the base phoneme.

Symbol | Voiceless | Voiced
--- | --- | ---
``` | `{ejc}` | `{imp}`

## Suprasegmentals

### Stress

Symbol | Name
--- | ---
`'` | primary stress
`,` | secondary stress

### Length

Symbol | Feature
--- | ---
`:` | `{lng}`

## References

1. Kirshenbaum, Evan, Representing IPA phonetics in ASCII (HTML). 1993. Updated 2003.

2. Kirshenbaum, Evan, Representing IPA phonetics in ASCII (PDF). 2001. Updated 2011.