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A respelling or phonetic notation showing how a word sounds.
Also known as: Phonetic respelling, IPA transcription
Dictionaries show pronunciation either by respelling in ordinary letters or by the International Phonetic Alphabet. Respelling is readable without training and ambiguous between accents; the IPA is precise and requires learning, which is why British and American dictionaries have historically chosen differently.
Shows how an entry is pronounced, either by respelling in ordinary letters or in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Contexts: History
Trades readability against precision, which is why American dictionaries have favoured respelling and British ones the phonetic alphabet.
Contexts: History
Assumes a reference accent, so a single transcription describes one variety rather than the language as a whole.
Contexts: History
A word set in brackets or slashes with unfamiliar letter shapes and small raised marks between its letters.