13/Dec/2024- PunkTeachniko Now Has Its Own Phonemic Chart!

PunkTechniko has a new phonemic chart that you can use to help you learn how to read in English. Check it out here:

Did you know...?

Although there are 26 letters in the English alphabet, there are actually 44 sounds altogether? This makes an IPA chart like a treasure map for linguists and language learners alike, providing a clear guide to pronouncing English accurately. It's a fantastic tool for anyone looking to master the nuances of English pronunciation.

A Brief History

The information in a phonemic chart was discovered by the IPA (the International Phonetic Association) in 1886, in Paris. The association was led by Paul Passy, along with other French and British language teachers. They aimed to create a uniform system for phonetic transcription to assist in teaching pronunciation.

The IPA chart was based on earlier systems like the Romic alphabet; by Henry Sweet (here)

... and the Phonotypic Alphabet; by Isaac Pitman (here). The very first version appeared in 1888 (. It has undergone several revisions since then to reflect the evolving understanding of phonetics.

Modern Developments

Adrian Underhill's work on the 'Sound Foundations Phonemic Chart' has been a tremendous success, and has become a common tool used widely by English language teachers worldwide!

Lead to other phonemic charts by other bodies such as the EnglishClub.com (which heavily influenced mine):