Analphabetic
Another type of phonetic notation that is more precise than alphabetic notation is analphabetic phonetic notation. Instead of both the alphabetic and iconic notational types' general principle of using one symbol per sound, analphabetic notation uses long sequences of symbols to precisely describe the component features of an articulatory gesture (MacMahon 1996:842–844). This type of notation is reminiscent of the notation used in chemical formulas to denote the composition of chemical compounds. Although more descriptive than alphabetic notation, analphabetic notation is less practical for many purposes (e.g. for descriptive linguists doing fieldwork or for speech pathologists impressionistically transcribing speech disorders). As a result, this type of notation is uncommon.
Two examples of this type were developed by the Danish Otto Jespersen (1889) and American Kenneth Pike (1943). Pike's system, which is part of a larger goal of scientific description of phonetics, is particularly interesting in its challenge against the descriptive method of the phoneticians who created alphabetic systems like the IPA. An example of Pike's system can be demonstrated by the following. A syllabic voiced alveolar nasal consonant (/n̩/ in IPA) is notated as
MaIlDeCVoeIpvnnAPpaatdtltnransnsfSpvavdtlvtnransssfTpgagdtlwvtitvransnsfSrpFSs
In Pike's notation there are 5 main components (which are indicated using the example above):
M - manner of production (i.e., MaIlDe)
C - manner of controlling (i.e., CVoeIpvnn)
description of stricture (i.e., what APpaatdtltnransnsfSpvavdtlvtnransssfTpgagdtlwvtitvransnsf)
S - segment type (i.e., Srp)
F - phonetic function (i.e., FSs)
The components of the notational hierarchy of this consonant are explained below:
M = productive mechanism a = air-stream mechanism I = initiator l = for lung air D = direction of the air stream e = egressive C = controlling mechanism V = valvate stricture o = oral stricture e = subvalvate esophageal stricture I = degree of air-stream interruption p = partial (continuants) v = nonfrictional n = nasal n = resonant nasal |
(Rank of stricture) A = acme P = primary (Features of stricture) p = point of articulation a = alveolar a = articulator t = tongue tip d = degree of articulation t = in time l = long t = type of articulation n = normal r = relative strength a = of articulating movement n = normal s = of acoustic impression n = normal s = shape of articulator f = flat (Rank of stricture) S = secondary (Features of stricture) p = point of articulation v = velic a = articulator v = velic d = degree of articulation t = in time l = long v = with cavity friction t = type of articulation n = normal r = relative strength a = of articulating movement n = normal s = of acoustic impression s = soft s = shape of articulator f = flat (Rank of stricture) T = tertiary (Features of stricture) p = point of articulation g = glottal a = articulator g = vocal folds d = degree of articulation t = in time l = long w = wide v = with cavity friction t = type of articulation i = iterative t = trill v = vibratory trill r = relative strength a = of articulating movement n = normal s = of acoustic impression n = normal s = shape of articulator f = flat |
S = segmental type r = real p = perceptual F = function phonetically S = of the segment in the syllable s = syllabic contoid |