The Translingual Phonetic Alphabet (TPA) is a phonetic alphabet that is similar to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). This repository hosts documentation related to this scientific project.
I created the TPA because I found the IPA to be too inaccurate, illegible, computer-incompatible, and incomplete. I wanted to create a phonetic alphabet that was more accurate, logical, legible, aesthetically-pleasing, and computer-compatible.
Thus, the TPA is a complete Unicode phonetic alphabet that is suitable for use with computers. This project is in continuous development and it is maintained by its author. It has been in development for over seven years.
A "scientific literary work" on the subject of Articulatory Phonetics:
https://gist.github.com/SalviaSage/36df3334e0e9c5859c53b9f2482e79cb
The IPA also has complete representation in Unicode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet
ABOUT: I created the TPA after taking a break from the study of phonetics in order to study computer programming. There, I learned of the importance of logical thinking, as computer programs do not work if you do not follow logic.
After having understood the concepts of logic, I came back to phonetics and I was able to have a deeper understanding of the subject. For example, I did not understand how ejective consonants were pronounced. I read articles which claimed that there were such consonants and I viewed a video clip where someone pronounced them correctly. I was unable to pronounce them. I did not know how to; however, I finally figured out how to pronounce them, along with many different sounds pronounceable by the human vocal tract. I proceeded to categorize them, and I created my own phonetic alphabet.
In this repository, you can find some LibreOffice (.ods) and Portable Document Format (.pdf) document files as well as other files, and screenshots that document the letters of the Translingual Phonetic Alphabet and its combining diacritics, and other graphical markings with information and audio files.
These spreadsheet files can also be opened in Microsoft Excel.
(Note: some of the code that the spreadsheets use may not work there.)
If you are looking for a good, capable font that can display all of the letters of the TPA. I highly suggest that you download the font called Code2000 and use it on any TPA phonetic transcription. Charis SIL is also a good, capable font.
I can not guarantee that the letters of the TPA will show correctly in any other font as I am testing the alphabet on the use of this font, however other fonts may also give satisfactory results.
I am not the author of this font, but I am hosting it here as I can not find this font anywhere else.
Link to the Repository of the font:
https://github.com/SalviaSage/Code2000-Font
A keyboard typeable method for the TPA has been uploaded:
https://github.com/SalviaSage/Keyboard-Layouts/tree/master/Phonetic%20Alphabets/Translingual%20Phonetic%20Alphabet%20(TPA)%20Typer
If you want to hear some of the audio recordings I made where I make explanations and demonstrations:
You can find them here:
https://github.com/SalviaSage/Translingual-Phonetic-Alphabet/tree/master/Audio%20Recordings
Feel free to post any issues or questions here:
https://github.com/SalviaSage/Translingual-Phonetic-Alphabet/issues
GitHub is where I aim to host the entirety of the project in its electronic format.
Thanks for your interest in the Translingual Phonetic Alphabet (TPA).
Copyright 2018-2026 SalviaSage
Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
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