For the main Learning the International Phonetic Alphabet page, click here.

Transcription test generator

This page is intended primarily for students at the University of Sheffield taking EGH211 Phonetics: the selections generated are indicative of the format and complexity of the transcription test at the end of that module, where sounds will be produced 'live' for you by a trained phonetician. The selections are made to ensure good coverage of selected parts of the chart (pulmonic and non-pulmonic consonants; primary and secondary cardinal vowels).

You can practice your production and perception of the sounds by working in pairs or small groups, taking it in turns to produce and transcribe the sounds. Produce the sounds in 1. between two open vowels; produce the sounds in 2. on their own; produce the sounds in each part of 3. as a fluent string of sounds with an open vowel between the consonants; produce the sounds in each part of 4. as a fluent string. You can also practice identifying the symbols, checking your answers against the IPA chart. It may be helpful to refer to the clickable IPA chart with video illustrations available from the main Learning the International Phonetic Alphabet page. You can generate a new selection by clicking the button below.

If IPA symbols seem to be absent this is probably because your browser cannot access a Unicode font: see this page for advice on installing and using such fonts.

<-- Only click this when you are sure you are finished with the current selection!