What's it called when pronunciations are sounded out with normal letters?

Chickenstalker , 9 months ago

If a language has a better spelling system but doesn’t use it, it is a shitty language (English).

Apepollo11 , 8 months ago

I kind of agree, but there is an issue with this.

Even within England, the difference in pronunciation from region to region means that there can be no ‘true’ pronunciation. Add to that the weird a/o vowel, the t/d thing and odd emphasis on 'r’s at the ends of words that many Americans use, or the wholesale reassignment of vowel sounds that New Zealand uses, and you’ll find that any ‘proper’ way to spell things is not how the majority of the world says it.

The biggest issue is that English is an exceptionally fluid spoken language, but began solidifying as a written language hundreds of years ago.

Even if we did a do-over of the spellings in written English, it would fall out of sync with the spoken language very quickly.

guyrocket , 9 months ago

Do you want to learn the IPA? It's not very difficult.

Here's a simple introdtion vid: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OJlF2eiGsP4

hydroel , 9 months ago

The IPA is a lot more efficient in that regard! It’s international so it’s valid for all languages, whereas phonetic spelling is easier to learn but changes from language to language.

AbouBenAdhem , 9 months ago

If you’re specifically looking for a term that differentiates what you’re describing from IPA, see pronunciation respelling.

Taco2112 , 9 months ago

I believe you’re thinking of phonetically, or spelling it how you hear it.

squirmy_wormy , 9 months ago

Phonetic spelling

study.com/…/phonetic-spelling-examples.html

Aviandelight , 9 months ago

I thought both the sound and the letters were referred to as phonetics. Now I’m interested in what other answers are.