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How do you pronounce these Greek letters in English dictionary definitions?

What pronunciation does Google dictionary use?Are there any words pronounced with an unstressed short monophthong at the end of word that are not /ə/?How to pronounce “miracle”?Do we have any English dictionary that shows precisely both letters and diacritics?Is there a kind of “official” dictionary for the English language?How can I teach an English speaking person to say my name correctly (Kjetil)Is “I” (as in lie, buy, try) not a natural vowel?What does the abbreviation 'compl.' mean in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)Is there an etymological explanation for the silent ‘g’ in “paradigm”?Why are dictionary transcriptions contradictory for the phonetic representation of oranges?

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

0

1

Dictionary definitions for the English language usually have the word spelled out in Greek letters to indicate how the word is pronounced phonetically.

Examples highlighted:

What are these Greek phonetic words called? And more importantly, where is it writ how these should be pronounced? I find them unhelpful because of my ignorance and I'd like to learn.

pronunciation dictionaries phonology phonetics ipa

share|improve this question

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't think those are Greek...
  
  – GoldenGremlin
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Consult the pronunciation key for the tome you are referencing.
  
  – Hot Licks
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:13
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  They aren't Greek. It's the International Phonetic Alphabet. Various systems are in use for transcribing English, but Wikipedia provides a general overview with example words. Hot Licks' suggestion of finding the key for whatever specific dictionary you're using is the best idea, but if you can't find a key, the next best way to figure out how to interpret them is to look at what transcriptions the dictionary gives for words that you already know how to pronounce.
  
  – sumelic
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:13
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  BTW, if you are using Word, you can reproduce them by going to [Insert], [Symbols], [more Symbols], then Subset: [IPA extensions].
  
  – Cascabel
  Jun 22 '16 at 21:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Of course, your other option is to click on the little loudspeaker icon.
  
  – Hot Licks
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

0

1

Dictionary definitions for the English language usually have the word spelled out in Greek letters to indicate how the word is pronounced phonetically.

Examples highlighted:

What are these Greek phonetic words called? And more importantly, where is it writ how these should be pronounced? I find them unhelpful because of my ignorance and I'd like to learn.

pronunciation dictionaries phonology phonetics ipa

share|improve this question

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't think those are Greek...
  
  – GoldenGremlin
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:10
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Consult the pronunciation key for the tome you are referencing.
  
  – Hot Licks
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:13
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  They aren't Greek. It's the International Phonetic Alphabet. Various systems are in use for transcribing English, but Wikipedia provides a general overview with example words. Hot Licks' suggestion of finding the key for whatever specific dictionary you're using is the best idea, but if you can't find a key, the next best way to figure out how to interpret them is to look at what transcriptions the dictionary gives for words that you already know how to pronounce.
  
  – sumelic
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:13
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  BTW, if you are using Word, you can reproduce them by going to [Insert], [Symbols], [more Symbols], then Subset: [IPA extensions].
  
  – Cascabel
  Jun 22 '16 at 21:46
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Of course, your other option is to click on the little loudspeaker icon.
  
  – Hot Licks
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Dictionary definitions for the English language usually have the word spelled out in Greek letters to indicate how the word is pronounced phonetically.

Examples highlighted:

What are these Greek phonetic words called? And more importantly, where is it writ how these should be pronounced? I find them unhelpful because of my ignorance and I'd like to learn.

pronunciation dictionaries phonology phonetics ipa

share|improve this question

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

share|improve this question

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

share|improve this question

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

edited Jun 22 '16 at 20:18

sumelic

50.4k8121227

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

asked Jun 22 '16 at 20:06

Ghoti and ChipsGhoti and Chips

18317

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2

It's not "Greek". It's the IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (unofficially—though commonly—abbreviated IPA) is an alphabetic system of phonetic notation based primarily on the Latin alphabet. It was devised by the International Phonetic Association as a standardized representation of the sounds of oral language. The IPA is used by lexicographers, foreign language students and teachers, linguists, speech-language pathologists, singers, actors, constructed language creators, and translators.

The IPA is designed to represent only those qualities of speech that are part of oral language: phones, phonemes, intonation, and the separation of words and syllables.To represent additional qualities of speech, such as tooth gnashing, lisping, and sounds made with a cleft palate, an extended set of symbols called the Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet may be used.

There's a chart with the sounds the symbols make on the IPA's official website.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks for the succinct, quick answer with detail I can follow up on
  
  – Ghoti and Chips
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:22
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  It's all Greek to me!!
  
  – Hot Licks
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

It's not completely true that it is not Greek. Yes, it is IPA, but they needed so many symbols for IPA that they borrowed from Greek for some of them.

Many of them,

⟨ɑ⟩, ⟨ꞵ⟩, ⟨ɣ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɸ⟩, ⟨ꭓ⟩, and ⟨ʋ⟩

have different Unicode characters, but are Greek for practical purposes,

⟨θ⟩

is a actual Greek Unicode character, and

⟨β⟩ and ⟨χ⟩

are usually represented by the actual Greek letters though they are not supposed to be.

This is described in Wikipedia.

Some of the modified letters look as close to Greek letters as to Roman ones:

⟨ʋ⟩ ⟨ʙ⟩, ⟨z⟩, ⟨ⱱ⟩, ⟨ɵ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɜ⟩, ⟨ɤ⟩, ⟨ʏ⟩, ⟨ʊ⟩, ⟨ɪ⟩, ⟨o⟩, ⟨ʌ⟩

So, taken all together, and from the point of view of someone familiar only with the Roman and Greek alphabets, it does appear to have a significant proportion of Greek in it.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Not a single one of the letters in the OP's examples, /ˈnjuːklɪə/ and /ˈmʌskɪt/, is Greek!
  
  – TonyK
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I noticed, @TonyK. But I was referring to the actual question, which said 'usually have the word spelled out in Greek letters' and pointing out that a signficant proprtion at least looks like Greek, rather than going by the OP's example, which has an unusually low proportion of Greek-like letters - what bad luck. I suppose the ⟨ɪ⟩ could pass for a small capital ⟨Ι⟩ (and I have used a genuine Greek letter here).
  
  – David Robinson
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Some of the characters in the first blockquote aren't displaying for me (ꞵ, ꭓ). Is there some way you can fix this?
  
  – Laurel
  17 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2

It's not "Greek". It's the IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (unofficially—though commonly—abbreviated IPA) is an alphabetic system of phonetic notation based primarily on the Latin alphabet. It was devised by the International Phonetic Association as a standardized representation of the sounds of oral language. The IPA is used by lexicographers, foreign language students and teachers, linguists, speech-language pathologists, singers, actors, constructed language creators, and translators.

The IPA is designed to represent only those qualities of speech that are part of oral language: phones, phonemes, intonation, and the separation of words and syllables.To represent additional qualities of speech, such as tooth gnashing, lisping, and sounds made with a cleft palate, an extended set of symbols called the Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet may be used.

There's a chart with the sounds the symbols make on the IPA's official website.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks for the succinct, quick answer with detail I can follow up on
  
  – Ghoti and Chips
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:22
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  It's all Greek to me!!
  
  – Hot Licks
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

2

It's not "Greek". It's the IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (unofficially—though commonly—abbreviated IPA) is an alphabetic system of phonetic notation based primarily on the Latin alphabet. It was devised by the International Phonetic Association as a standardized representation of the sounds of oral language. The IPA is used by lexicographers, foreign language students and teachers, linguists, speech-language pathologists, singers, actors, constructed language creators, and translators.

The IPA is designed to represent only those qualities of speech that are part of oral language: phones, phonemes, intonation, and the separation of words and syllables.To represent additional qualities of speech, such as tooth gnashing, lisping, and sounds made with a cleft palate, an extended set of symbols called the Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet may be used.

There's a chart with the sounds the symbols make on the IPA's official website.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks for the succinct, quick answer with detail I can follow up on
  
  – Ghoti and Chips
  Jun 22 '16 at 20:22
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  It's all Greek to me!!
  
  – Hot Licks
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

It's not "Greek". It's the IPA - International Phonetic Alphabet.

The International Phonetic Alphabet (unofficially—though commonly—abbreviated IPA) is an alphabetic system of phonetic notation based primarily on the Latin alphabet. It was devised by the International Phonetic Association as a standardized representation of the sounds of oral language. The IPA is used by lexicographers, foreign language students and teachers, linguists, speech-language pathologists, singers, actors, constructed language creators, and translators.

The IPA is designed to represent only those qualities of speech that are part of oral language: phones, phonemes, intonation, and the separation of words and syllables.To represent additional qualities of speech, such as tooth gnashing, lisping, and sounds made with a cleft palate, an extended set of symbols called the Extensions to the International Phonetic Alphabet may be used.

There's a chart with the sounds the symbols make on the IPA's official website.

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

share|improve this answer

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

answered Jun 22 '16 at 20:13

Catija♦Catija

3,4041224

1

It's not completely true that it is not Greek. Yes, it is IPA, but they needed so many symbols for IPA that they borrowed from Greek for some of them.

Many of them,

⟨ɑ⟩, ⟨ꞵ⟩, ⟨ɣ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɸ⟩, ⟨ꭓ⟩, and ⟨ʋ⟩

have different Unicode characters, but are Greek for practical purposes,

⟨θ⟩

is a actual Greek Unicode character, and

⟨β⟩ and ⟨χ⟩

are usually represented by the actual Greek letters though they are not supposed to be.

This is described in Wikipedia.

Some of the modified letters look as close to Greek letters as to Roman ones:

⟨ʋ⟩ ⟨ʙ⟩, ⟨z⟩, ⟨ⱱ⟩, ⟨ɵ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɜ⟩, ⟨ɤ⟩, ⟨ʏ⟩, ⟨ʊ⟩, ⟨ɪ⟩, ⟨o⟩, ⟨ʌ⟩

So, taken all together, and from the point of view of someone familiar only with the Roman and Greek alphabets, it does appear to have a significant proportion of Greek in it.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Not a single one of the letters in the OP's examples, /ˈnjuːklɪə/ and /ˈmʌskɪt/, is Greek!
  
  – TonyK
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I noticed, @TonyK. But I was referring to the actual question, which said 'usually have the word spelled out in Greek letters' and pointing out that a signficant proprtion at least looks like Greek, rather than going by the OP's example, which has an unusually low proportion of Greek-like letters - what bad luck. I suppose the ⟨ɪ⟩ could pass for a small capital ⟨Ι⟩ (and I have used a genuine Greek letter here).
  
  – David Robinson
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Some of the characters in the first blockquote aren't displaying for me (ꞵ, ꭓ). Is there some way you can fix this?
  
  – Laurel
  17 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

It's not completely true that it is not Greek. Yes, it is IPA, but they needed so many symbols for IPA that they borrowed from Greek for some of them.

Many of them,

⟨ɑ⟩, ⟨ꞵ⟩, ⟨ɣ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɸ⟩, ⟨ꭓ⟩, and ⟨ʋ⟩

have different Unicode characters, but are Greek for practical purposes,

⟨θ⟩

is a actual Greek Unicode character, and

⟨β⟩ and ⟨χ⟩

are usually represented by the actual Greek letters though they are not supposed to be.

This is described in Wikipedia.

Some of the modified letters look as close to Greek letters as to Roman ones:

⟨ʋ⟩ ⟨ʙ⟩, ⟨z⟩, ⟨ⱱ⟩, ⟨ɵ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɜ⟩, ⟨ɤ⟩, ⟨ʏ⟩, ⟨ʊ⟩, ⟨ɪ⟩, ⟨o⟩, ⟨ʌ⟩

So, taken all together, and from the point of view of someone familiar only with the Roman and Greek alphabets, it does appear to have a significant proportion of Greek in it.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Not a single one of the letters in the OP's examples, /ˈnjuːklɪə/ and /ˈmʌskɪt/, is Greek!
  
  – TonyK
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I noticed, @TonyK. But I was referring to the actual question, which said 'usually have the word spelled out in Greek letters' and pointing out that a signficant proprtion at least looks like Greek, rather than going by the OP's example, which has an unusually low proportion of Greek-like letters - what bad luck. I suppose the ⟨ɪ⟩ could pass for a small capital ⟨Ι⟩ (and I have used a genuine Greek letter here).
  
  – David Robinson
  1 hour ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Some of the characters in the first blockquote aren't displaying for me (ꞵ, ꭓ). Is there some way you can fix this?
  
  – Laurel
  17 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

It's not completely true that it is not Greek. Yes, it is IPA, but they needed so many symbols for IPA that they borrowed from Greek for some of them.

Many of them,

⟨ɑ⟩, ⟨ꞵ⟩, ⟨ɣ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɸ⟩, ⟨ꭓ⟩, and ⟨ʋ⟩

have different Unicode characters, but are Greek for practical purposes,

⟨θ⟩

is a actual Greek Unicode character, and

⟨β⟩ and ⟨χ⟩

are usually represented by the actual Greek letters though they are not supposed to be.

This is described in Wikipedia.

Some of the modified letters look as close to Greek letters as to Roman ones:

⟨ʋ⟩ ⟨ʙ⟩, ⟨z⟩, ⟨ⱱ⟩, ⟨ɵ⟩, ⟨ɛ⟩, ⟨ɜ⟩, ⟨ɤ⟩, ⟨ʏ⟩, ⟨ʊ⟩, ⟨ɪ⟩, ⟨o⟩, ⟨ʌ⟩

So, taken all together, and from the point of view of someone familiar only with the Roman and Greek alphabets, it does appear to have a significant proportion of Greek in it.

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216

share|improve this answer

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216

answered 2 hours ago

David RobinsonDavid Robinson

2,724216